'J 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


THE  BOOK  OF 
ARTEMAS 

Concerning  men,  and  the  things 

that  men  did  do,  at  the  time  when 

there  was  war 


NEW  YORK 
GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,  1917,  BY 
W.  WESTALL  &  CO. 


COPYRIGHT,  1918,  BY 
GEORGE  H.  DORAN  COMPANY 


PRINTED  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 


UNTO 

EVE 


2019184 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


THE 
BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


CHAPTER  I. 

1  The  Chronicles  of  Arte- 
mas,  the  scribe.  3  The 
state  of  the  land  of  Eur. 
4  Concerning  Willi,  who 
ruled  over  ihe  men  of  Hu. 
7  Concerning  Mud,  that 
was  his  son.  9  Mud  en- 
courageth  the  ambitions 
of  his  father.  19  And 
sendeth  in  unto  him  a 
certain  wise  man.  21  The 
parable  of  the  oak  tree. 
26  And  the  interpretation 
thereof.  29  Willi  maketh 
him,  a  war. 

HPHE  words  of  Arte- 
*•    mas   of  the  scribes 
that  were  in  Lon  in  the 
land  of  En. 

2  Of  the  things  that 
were  and  of  the  things 
that   were   to   be:   con- 
cerning   men    and    the 
things    that    men    did 
do. 

3  ffNow     there     was 
peace  over  all  the  land 


of  Eur  and  amongst  all 
the  nations  that  abode 
there,  it  was  a  time  of 
great  content. 

4  fiBut    Willi,    who 
ruled  over  the  men  of 
Hu,  was  a  crafty  man 
and    greedy,     and    his 
ways  were  devious. 

5  And    when   he   be- 
held the   prosperity  of 
the  land  and  the  indus- 
try of  those  that  dwelt 
round  about,   and  that 
they  did  live  in  peace, 
the  one  with  the  other, 
his    heart    grew    black 
within  him  and  his  soul 
vomited  envy. 

6  Moreover,  he  was  a 
proud   man    and   ambi- 
tious withal.    His  covet- 
ousness  was  like  unto  a 
tree,  that  being  planted 
in  fertile  ground,  flour- 
isheth  mightily ;  and  the 
independence     of     the 


10 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


peoples  was  as  gall  unto 
his  vanity. 

7  flNow   the   son    of 
Willi  was  a  young  man, 
and  he  was  puffed  out 
with  pride  and  his  mind 
was  empty;  in  his  liv- 
ing, he  was  vicious,  and 
his  name,  it  was  Mud. 

8  And  when  Mud  saw 
that    his    father's    soul 
was  torn  with  the  vio- 
lence of  his  envy  and 
that    he    coveted    that 
which  was  not  his,  it  re- 
joiced him  exceedingly. 

9  ft  And  he  laid  him- 
self  out    to    entice   his 
father,    and   did   speak 
many     specious     words 
unto  him,  and  was  for 
ever  at  him. 

10  And  Mud  said  un- 
to his  father,  All  High- 
est, hail !    And  "Willi  an- 
swered     him,      saying, 
Thou  art  my  son:  And 
Mud     said     unto    him, 
Great  art  thou  above  all 
the  kings  of  the  earth, 
for  thou  hast  served  the 
Lord  faithfully  through- 
out the  days  of  thy  life. 

11  And      Willi      an- 
swered     him,      saying, 


[CH.   I. 

Verily  have  I  found  fa- 
vour in  the  sight  of  the 
Lord;  and  in  my  sight 
has  the  Lord  also  found 
favour. 

12  And    Mud   looked 
upon    his    father   from 
the  side;  he  gazed  upon 
his  countenance  with  a 
furtive  look,  and  did  see 
that  his  father's  vanity 
was  without  bounds.  So 
he     spake     unto     him 
again,  saying, 

13  Thy  shadow  is  as 
the     sun     whose     rays 
bring  forth  warmth,  giv- 
ing life  unto  all  them 
that  are  beneath  it. 

14  And    Willi    said, 
That  which  thou  sayest 
is  indeed  true ;  yet  doth 
the  sun  shine  over  all 
the    world    whilst    my 
shadow  is   for   ever   at 
two  hours  after  summer 
noon. 

15  And  Mud  answered 
him,  saying,  In  the  eve- 
ning of  thy  days  shall 
thy  shadow  grow  long, 
and  it  shall  spread  its 
shade  over  all  the  world ; 
for  it  is  a  good  world 
and   deserveth    well    of 


CH.  I.] 

thee.  And  the  Lord 
will  surely  reward  thee 
for  all  thy  righteous- 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


11 


16  And    Willi    said, 
Verily,  art  thou  my  son, 
and  in  wisdom  art  thou 
second  only  to  thy  fa- 
ther.   I  will  make  me  a 
covenant  with  the  Lord, 
and  it  shall  come  to  pass 
that  I  shall  have  domin- 
ion over  all  the   earth 
and  over  all  the  waters 
that  are   on  the   earth. 
And  whatsoever  shall  be 
left  over,  that  will  I  give 
unto  the  Lord  for  to  ~be 
His  own. 

17  And  I  will  make 
might  right,  and  them 
that  bow  not  down  be- 
fore   me,    those    will    I 
surely  slay,   both    they 
and    their    wives    and 
their  children  and  the 
stranger  that  is  within 
their  gates.     And  their 
oxen  will  I  take  as  an 
offering  unto  my  Maj- 
esty.   And  their  house- 
hold goods  shall  be  mine 
by  the  strength  of  my 
sword. 

18  And  he  said  unto 


Mud,  that  was  his  son, 
Send  thou  unto  me  a 
wise  man  that  I  may 
take  counsel  of  him. 

19  flAnd    a    certain 
man   whose   name    was 
Bern  was  sojourning  in 
the  land,  and  him  did 
Mud    bring    unto    his 
father,  having  first  in- 
structed him  privily. 

20  And  when  he  that 
was  called  Bern   came 
into  the  presence  of  the 
king,  he  bowed  him  low, 
saying,  Hail,  0  king! 

21  ft  And  he  began  to 
speak,     saying,     There 
was  a  certain  husband- 
man and  he  planted  him 
an  oak  in  a  place  where 
trees  grew; 

22  And    it    came    to 
pass  that  the  oak  grew 
up  and  its  roots  spread 
themselves  about.    And 
there     was     not     room 
enough    in   that    place, 
and  the  trees  that  were 
planted     there     before 
rose     up     and     choked 
it   so   that   it   did   lan- 
guish away  until  there 
was  no  sap   remaining 
in  it. 


12 


THE  BOOK  OF   ARTEMAS 


23  And  when  the  hus- 
bandman   saw    how    it 
was,  he  sent  his  servant 
with  an  axe  and  he  told 
him   to    cut   down    the 
trees  that  were  round 
about. 

24  Yea,  every  tree  ex- 
cept the  oak  did  he  com- 
mand him  to  cut  down, 
so  that  there  was  room, 
and  the  oak  did  flourish 
as  the  cedars  that  are 
in    Lebanon,     and    its 
branches  did  sway  them 
over  all  the  world. 

25  And     Willi    said 
unto  him,  Explain  unto 
me  the  meaning  of  this 
parable,  thou  very  wise 
man.     Of  what  is  the 
oak   and   of  what   the 
trees  that   were   round 
about? 

26  ft  And    Bern    an- 
swered him,  saying,  The 
nurseryman  is  the  Lord 
of  Hosts.    The  oak  that 


[CH.  i. 

He  planted,  it  is  thy- 
self, 0  king;  and  the 
trees  that  would  choke 
it,  they  are  the  na- 
tions that  dwell  round 
about. 

27  The  axe  is  thine 
army,  and  the  servant 
of  the   husbandman   is 
he    whom    thou    shalt 
make  to  be  the  captain 
over  all  thine  host. 

28  And    when    Willi 
heard    the   things   that 
the  wise  man  did  say, 
he    was    well    pleased; 
wherefore  he  gave  unto 
him  a  cross,  and  it  was 
made  of  iron. 

29  ffAnd     after     he 
had    made    him    secret 
preparations,    he    went 
out  with  a  great  multi- 
tude of  men  and  much 
munition,  and  he  made 
him    a    war,    the    like 
whereof       was      .never 
known  on  earth  before. 


CH.  II.] 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


13 


CHAPTER   II. 

1  Peace  reigneth  in  En.  2 
Internal  discord  is  loosed. 
4  The  men  of  Ire  have 
much  power.  6  They  ob- 
tain their  demands.  12 
Petty  strife  prevaileth. 
14  The  priests  see  wicked- 
ness everywhere.  19  The 
owners  of  ships  raise  their 
hire.  26  The  rulers  are 
blamed.  27  Concerning  the 
war  scribes. 

"Vf  OW  there  was  peace 
*^  throughout  all  the 
land  of  En,  and  the 
noise  of  battle  was  afar 
off.  And  the  merchants 
of  the  world  did  bring 
their  wares  for  to  sell 
them,  even  fine  cloth 
and  spices  that  were 
rare  did  they  bring  in 
their  ships. 

2  flBut  he  that  put- 
teth  away  the  sword 
doth  loosen  the  tongue; 
wherefore  it  came  to 
pass  that  there  was 
great  talk  amongst  the 
rulers,  and  the  mighty 
men  did  say  things,  the 
one  against  the  other. 


3  And     there     were 
many     jealousies 
amongst  them,  and  they 
did  utter  spiteful  say- 
ings    concerning     each 
other;  verily,  they  were 
like    unto    evil-minded 
children    in   a   quarrel, 
and    their  pettiness  of 
spirit  was  an  abomina- 
tion. 

4  f  Now     an     House 
that  is  divided  against 
itself    will    stand    any- 
thing.    And  when  men 
from    the   land   of   Ire 
took    power    into    their 
own  hands  and  did  rule 
over  En,  there  wag  no 
one  amongst  the  rulers 
to  say  them  nay. 

5  And  the  men  of  Ire 
exacted  tribute  from  the 
rulers,   and   the  people 
of  the  land  rebelled  not ; 
for  penury  doth  bring 
forth  wisdom,  but  pros- 
perity    breedeth     only 
fools.      And    the    pros- 
perity of  the  land  of  En 
was  great. 

6  fiAnd     when     the 


14 


THE  BOOK  OF  ABTEMAS 


[CH.  II. 


men  of  Ire  saw  that  all 
that  which  they  de- 
manded was  given  unto 
them,  they  did  make 
them  long  faces,  and 
did  grumble  aloud,  and 
did  utter  groans  in  the 
public  places  and 
strange  noises  in  the 
portals  of  the  House. 
And  when  they  had 
thus  prepared  the  way 
for  it,  they  did  straight- 
ways  ask  for  more. 

7  And    a    few    that 
dwelt  in  the  land  of  En 
did  make  them  a  stand, 
saying,  What  we  have 
given   unto    you,    it   is 
enough.    Therefore,  get 
ye   hence,    ye   men    of 
Ire. 

8  And  the  men  of  Ire 
waxed  very  wroth,  and 
they  did  curse  the  men 
of   En   and   did   swear 
strange    oaths    concern- 
ing them,  so  that  they 
that  were  weak  amongst 
the     rulers     began    to 
shiver  in  their  sandals. 

9  And  they  held  them 
a    council    together    in 
secret   and   did   agitate 
themselves  greatly,  seek- 


ing for  a,  means  where- 
by they  might  escape 
from  the  wrath  of  the 
men  of  Ire,  for  it  was  a 
terrible  wrath,  being 
very  ugly. 

10  And  after  one  had 
said  one  thing  and  an- 
other had  said  another 
thing,  then  did  all  them 
that  were  gathered  to- 
gether  make    them    an 
agreement,  and  they  did 
give  unto  the  men  of  Ire 
all  'those    things    that 
they  had  demanded. 

11  And   the   men   of 
Ire  prepared  them  long 
faces  and  did  get  them 
ready  for  another  occa- 
sion.    Neither  was  the 
day   ever   known  when 
any  man  that  was  from 
Ire    did   render   thanks 
for  that  which  he  had 
received. 

12  H  And  class  quar- 
relled with  class,  the  ar- 
tisan  with  the   master, 
the  noble  with  the  serf, 
the  priests  with  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  fools  with 
one  another. 

13  And  all  those  that 
thought  one  thing  did 


CH.   II.] 


THE   BOOK   OP   ARTEMAS 


15 


contend  with  them  that 
did  think  another  thing, 
and  the  bickering  that 
ivas  between  them,  it 
was  very  great. 

14  ft  And  there  were 
those       amongst       the 
priests  that   did  travel 
about  the  country,  cry- 
ing out  in  a  loud  voice, 
and     saying,     Wicked- 
ness !    Wickedness !    All 
is  wickedness ! 

15  And  they  did  say 
many  things  concerning 
the  young  men  and  con- 
cerning    the     damsels, 
and      also      concerning 
them      both      together. 
And  those  that  listened 
unto  them  were  amazed 
that  such  things  should 
be ;  and  some  there  were 
that  doubted. 

16  And     the     priests 
did    raise    their    hands 
unto     heaven,     saying, 
Deliver    us    from    evil. 
And     the     people     did 
drop    their    hands    to- 
wards the  earth,  saying, 
Deliver    us     from    the 
priests. 

17  And   notwith- 
standing  all  that  which 


was  said  by  the  priests 
and  by  them  that  did 
grub  into  things,  the 
wickedness  of  the  peo- 
ple was  in  no  wise 
greater  than  the  wicked- 
ness of  the  other  nations 
of  the  world. 

18  And  this  was  the 
state  of  the  land  of  En 
when    Willi    did    make 
him  the  War :  but  after- 
wards, it  was  different. 
For  the  rulers  declared 
them   a   truce,    and   no 
longer    cried   out   after 
one  another  in  the  pub- 
lic places;  nevertheless, 
the  ardour  of  the  priests 
remained  without  abate- 
ment,   and    there    were 
those  amongst  the  news- 
mongers  on  both  sides 
that    did    conceal   their 
partisanship    in    an    ill 
manner. 

19  If  And  because  the 
land   of   En    was   built 
upon   an  island,  there- 
fore was  it  necessary  for 
the  food  of  the  people 
to  be  brought  unto  them 
in  ships. 

20  And   the   men   of 
Hu   did   sink   of  these 


16 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


[CH.  II. 


ships  a  few,  and  the  rul- 
ers of  the  land  did  seize 
a  great  number  of  them 
for  to  carry  the  armies 
and  the  implements  of 
war.  Wherefore  the 
number  of  them  that 
were  available  for  to 
bring  the  people's  food, 
it  was  less  than  be- 
fore. 

21  And  they  that  did 
own  the  ships  that  re- 
mained did  make  them 
new  rates  of  freight  that 
were  twofold,  and  three- 
fold, and  fourfold 
greater  than  those  that 
had  been  before. 

22  And      the      mer- 
chants did  make  them 
higher    prices    for    the 
wares  that  they  did  sell ; 
and  some  did  do  so  be- 
cause it  was  forced  upon 
them ;  and  others  did  do 
so    because    they    were 
greedy  for  the  profits, 
wherefore     they    spake 
privily,    the    one    unto 
the  other,   saying,   See, 
brother,  the  opportunity 
is  upon  us. 

23  And     because     it 
was   "beyond  them   and 


they  could  devise  no 
plan  against  it,  there- 
fore did  the  rulers  of 
the  land  hold  themselves 
aloof  from  all  these 
things  for  a  full  two 
years. 

24  Wherefore         the 
people    did    pay    them 
very  dearly  for  every- 
thing that  they  did  eat, 
and  those  that  did  sell 
merchandise  in  the  mar- 
ket  places,   these   grew 
fat  in  a  lean  time. 

25  And     when     the 
people    murmured,    the 
rulers  spake  soft  words 
unto  them,  saying,  As- 
suredly is  your  lot  cast 
in  an  hard  place;  even 
so,  the  straits  of  the  men 
of    Hu,    are    they    not 
worse  than  yours  ?    And 
because    it     was    war, 
therefore  were  the  peo- 
ple easily  appeased. 

26  fl  Never  t  h  e  1  e  s  s, 
there   were   many   that 
complained  because  the 
owners  of  the  ships  and 
those  that  sold  the  peo- 
ple's   food    did    make 
them    profits    such    as 
never  before ;  and  many 


CH.  II.] 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


17 


blamed  the  rulers  that 
did  countenance  such 
things  at  a  time  when 
there  was  war. 

27  ft  Now  there  were 
certain     men     amongst 
the  scribes  and  they  did 
wage  them  the  war  on 
paper. 

28  And,  of  these,  Bel- 
loc  did  write  him  for  the 
great  captains  and  for 
them  in  authority,  that 
they    might    read    and 
learn    and    receive    his 
commandments. 

29  And    Blatch    did 
write  him  for  the  com- 
mon soldier,   wherefore 
the  violence  of  his  words 
was  a  thing  for  delight, 
demolishing      all      con- 
trary argument. 

30  And      Garv     did 
write   him    so    that   all 
might   read.      And    be- 
cause there  iva$  nothing 
that  this  man  did  leave 
unwritten,  therefore  did 
those  that  followed  him 


perforce     forego     their 
sabbath  meal. 

31  And     there     was 
also   Horatio,  being  he 
that  did  for  ever  step 
into    the    breach;    yea, 
even    into    the    breach 
that  was  not  there  did 
he  step;  and  he  wrote 
concerning       righteous- 
ness and  blood. 

32  And    there    were 
also    others    in     great 
number,    and    all    did 
write  them   freely  and 
as  men  that  did  know. 

33  And  when  the  cap- 
tains did  not  do  those 
things    that    had    been 
written  down  for  their 
instruction,     then    was 
there    much    anger    a- 
mongst  the  war  scribes, 
and    they    did     gnash 
their  teeth  in  rage. 

34  Wherefore       they 
were    continually    pro- 
voked    beyond     endur- 
ance,   and    they    wrote 
them  more  because  of  it. 


18 


THE   BOOK   OF   AETEMAS 


[CH.  III. 


CHAPTER   III. 

1  The  rulers  in  En.  3  Con- 
cerning Herbert.  8.  Con- 
cerning David.  11  Con- 
cerning Winston.  13  Con- 
cerning Walter.  14  Con- 
cerning Reginald.  19 
Concerning  Samuel.  20 
Concerning  Simon.  25 
Concerning  Masterman. 
26  Concerning  Augustine. 
29  Concerning  Grey.  33 
Concerning  John.  34 
Concerning  Haldane.  41 
Concerning  Tennant.  42 
Concerning  the  other  rul- 
ers. 

"M'OW  these  were  the 
*•*  rulers  in  the  land 
of  En  in  the  days  when 
George  that  was  the 
Fifth  did  reign  and 
the  Great  War  was  be- 
gun. 

2  There  was  Herbert, 
and  David,  and  Win- 
ston, and  Walter,  and 
Reginald,  and  Samuel, 
and  Simon,  and  Master- 
man,  and  Augustine, 
and  Grey,  and  John, 
and  Haldane,  and  Ten- 
nant; and  there  were 


also  others,  whereof  the 
number  was  great  be- 
yond computation. 

3  fl  And  Herbert  was 
the   man   that   was   re- 
sponsible unto  the  peo- 
ple, and  he  did  take  the 
head  place  at  the  table 
whereat  the  rulers  did 
sit.     And  there  was  in 
him    an    abundance    of 
patience  such  as  no  man 
did    ever   have    before; 
and  he  did  keep  the  rul- 
ers together,  all  in  one 
body. 

4  And  in  time  of  dis- 
cord he  was  like  unto  a 
gentle    shepherd    when 
the  rams  do  fight,  and 
them  that  spake  angrily 
in  the  council  chamber 
he  did  soften  with  hon- 
eyed words. 

5  Nevertheless,    there 
were  some  that  did  say 
wicked   things  concern- 
ing him,  and  they  did 
compare    him    unto    a 
woman  that  is  advanced 
in  years. 

6  And    Herbert    had 


CH.  III.] 

taken    unto    himself    a 
wife. 

7  And  when  the  time 
came,     he     did     leave 
the   head   place   at   the 
table  whereat  the  rulers 
did    sit,    and    he    did 
go. 

8  flNow   before   that 
it  was  war,  David  was 
an  hated  man;  yet  was 
he  also  loved.    And  aft- 
erwards it  came  to  pass 
that    he    was    a    much 
loved  man,  yet  was  he 
also  hated. 

9  And      David      did 
many  things  so  that  men 
spake  about  him,  saying, 
Behold,  he  is  like  unto  a 
skeleton  key  that  fitteth 
all  locks.    And  whatso- 
ever there   is  need  of, 
that  thing  will  he  surely 
do. 

10  But     because     he 
was  new  made  and  did 
carry   on,   therefore   he 
lost  favour  with  certain 
of  the  Pharisees,  and  his 
name    did    become    an 
abomination  unto  them. 
Yet,     when     the     time 
came,  he  went  up  unto 
the  head  place   at  the 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


19 


table  whereat  the  rulers 
did  sit. 

11  fl  Now       Winston 
was  a  wild  youth  and 
rash,  hot  of  the  tongue 
and    venturous    in    his 
undertakings.        Never- 
theless, he  wa$  not  lack- 
ing in  understanding. 

12  And    because    he 
was  like  unto  new  wine 
when     the     vintage     is 
good,  therefore  did  they 
set  him  down  in  a  place 
that   was    cool,    saying, 
Peradventure,  in  a  lit- 
tle time,  there  will  be 
maturity. 

13  fl  And  Walter  was 
over  all  them  that  did 
deal     in     merchandise, 
and  he  sojourned 
amongst  the  rulers  dur- 
ing many  months.    And 
the  things  that  he  did 
do,  what  man  knoweth 
thereof?    And  when  the 
time  came,  he  did  go. 

14  flNow       Reginald 
was    blessed    with    an 
heart  that  was  overflow- 
ing with  the  milk  of  hu- 
man kindness,  and  the 
lot    of    the    immigrants 
from   the   land    of   Hu 


20 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


did  move  him  mightily, 
so  that  he  did  weep 
tears. 

15  And    there    were 
many  of  these  men  in 
the  land  of  En,  some  of 
them  being  there   that 
they  might  make  money, 
and  some  of  them  were 
come  for  to  spy  out  the 
land. 

16  But  Reginald  did 
scorn  to  make  him  a  dis- 
tinction  between  them, 
fearing  lest  some  man 
should  say,  See,  there  is 
one  that  he  favoureth. 

17  Neither  would  he 
lay  himself  out  to  hin- 
der any  man  that  was 
earning  his  bread;  and 
the  spies  that  were  in 
the  land,   it  was   their 
means  of  livelihood. 

18  Therefore   did   he 
uphold  them,  each  man 
in  his  place,  because  he 
was  Reginald.     Where- 
fore  there   were   many 
that  conceived  him  weak 
unto  foolishness.     And 
when  the  time  came,  he 
did  go. 

19  flAnd  unto   Sam- 
uel   was    given    power 


[CH.   III. 

over  all  the  cities  of  En. 
And  this  man's  name 
was  not  for  ever  in  the 
mouths  of  the  people, 
neither  did  they  con- 
cern themselves  at  all 
with  the  things  that  he 
did  do.  Nevertheless, 
he  was  not  an  idle  man. 
But  when  the  time 
came,  he  did  go. 

20  ft  Now  Simon  was 
a  man  that  was  strange 
in    his    beliefs,    neither 
was  he  an  help  in  time 
of  trouble.     And  there 
were  some  that,  seeking 
the  reason  for  his  fall- 
ing away  in  the  time  of 
his    country 's    tribula- 
tion, did  say  he  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  devil. 

21  And  he  was  a  man 
peaceable     beyond     all 
reason,  so  that  he  did 
put  himself  against  the 
patriots  of  the  land  of 
En  when  they  did  set 
them   out  for  to   wage 
war  in  a  cause  that  was 
just. 

22  And     because    he 
and    those    that    were 
with    him    were    as    a 
voice  that  crieth  in  the 


CH.  III.] 


THE   BOOK   OF  AETEMAS 


wilderness,  therefore  he 
did  get  him  out  from  the 
inner  chamber  wherein 
did  sit  the  rulers  of  the 
land,  and  he  did  make 
one  cause  with  them 
that  did  for  ever  carp 
and  cavil. 

23  And      when      the 
counsellors       assembled 
together    for    to    make 
them  ordinances  for  the 
salvation  of  the  country, 
then  would  Simon  rise 
upon   his    feet    and   he 
would  make  him  an  ob- 
jection;   therefore    was 
he    an    hindrance    unto 
them    that    did    strive 
against  the  perils  that 
beset  the  land. 

24  And     Simon    was 
not  loved  in  the  country 
of  En.    Yet  was  he  ear- 
nest in  the  things  that 
he  did  do,  being  a  man 
with  a  conviction  that  is 
founded  amiss. 

25  fl  And  he  that  was 
chief    amongst    all    the 
rulers  did  say,  on  an  oc- 
casion,   Find    thou    me 
the    man;    then    will    I 
find  the  office.     So  they 
found  him   Masterman. 


21 
time 


And     when     the 
came,  he  did  go. 

26  flNow    Augustine 
was  a  great  sage,   and 
there  was  no  man  in  all 
the  land  of  En  that  did 
surpass     him     in     the 
knowledge  that  is  gotten 
of     books.       Therefore 
they  did  make  him  to 
rule   over  the   land   of 
Ire. 

27  And    on    a    time 
when  he  was  deep  in  en- 
gagement      with       the 
words    of    the    ancient 
Greeks,  behold,  the  men 
of  Ire  stole  up  secretly 
and  they  fell  upon  his 
servants  so  that  many  of 
them  did  die. 

28  And  when  it  was 
told     unto     Augustine 
what  the  men  of  Ire  had 
done  unto  his  servants, 
he    was    filled    with    a 
great    wonder    and   his 
breast    was    torn    with 
sorrow.    And  because  it 
was  a  thing  that  liked 
him  not,  therefore  did 
he  remove  himself  from 
amongst  the  seats  of  the 
rulers,  neither  returned 
he  thither  again. 


22 


THE   BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


29  fl  Now  the  chief  of 
the     scribes     that     did 
write  unto  the  rulers  of 
the   nations   concerning 
matters,   his  name  was 
Grey,  And  he  did  send 
him    epistles    unto    the 
four     corners     of     the 
earth,   saying  this   and 
saying  that. 

30  And  to  him  there 
were  given  many  tasks 
that  were  difficult,  and 
he  did  not  always  find 
favour  with  the  people ; 
for  there  are  some  that 
look  from  afar  towards 
the  end,  but  the  stones 
that  are  upon  the  way, 
them  do  they  count  not 
at  all. 

31  And   it   was   said 
concerning  him  that  he 
was  a  man  of  strength 
in  time  of  stress,  but  in 
the  leading  up  and  aft- 
erwards,   then    was    he 
weak  as   twine   that  is 
boiled,  and  slow  as  wa- 
ter standing  in  a  pond. 

32  But  many  of  the 
things   that   he   did   do 
were  good,  and  his  name 
was  not  without  honour 
in  the  land.    Yet  when 


[CH.   III. 

the  time   came,  he  did 
go. 

33  flJohn,    that    was 
also  called  Honest,  was 
another  of  them  that  be- 
lieved    not      in      war. 
Therefore   he   did   hide 
himself    away    in    the 
shadows     of     oblivion ; 
but  he  hindered  not  the 
rulers  in  their  endeav- 
our. 

34  flNow       Haldane 
was  the  Keeper  of  the 
King's     Conscience     in 
the  land  of  En,  and  he 
was    a    man    that    was 
learned  in  the  ways  of 
the  men  of  Hu,  for  his 
spirit     abode     amongst 
them;  and  the  King  of 
Hu,  he  did  love  him  as 
a  brother. 

35  And  the  time  came 
when     all     the     people 
cried   out  with   a  loud 
voice,    saying,    Haldane 
must  go!     But  because 
the  winds  did  blow  in  an 
high  quarter,  he  heard 
them  not. 

36  And  there  was  a 
certain    man    and    his 
name    was    Northcliffe. 
And  it  came  to  pass  that 


CH.  III.] 

when  he  cried  out,  be- 
hold, his  voice  did  rise 
even  as  the  winds,  and 
it  was  above  the  shouts 
of  all  the  other  people. 

37  And  when  North- 
cliffe     had     raised    his 
voice  for  a  long  time  so 
that  his  throat  was  raw, 
being  like  unto  the  flesh 
of  a  kid  that  is  newly 
killed, 

38  And  when  all  the 
people  had  joined  with 
him,      shouting     in     a 
mighty   voice    that    did 
shake  the   seats  of  the 
rulers  with  the  violence 
of  its  clamour, 

39  Then  did  Haldane 
hear,  and  he  hearkened 
unto  them. 

40  And  the  people  re- 
joiced them  exceedingly, 
thinking  it  not  good  for 
one    that   had   been   in 
with  the  men  of  Hu  to 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


23 


hold  an  high  position  in 
the  land. 

41  ft  Now       Tennant 
was      adroit      of      the 
tongue.    And  when  cer- 
tain of  the  counsellors 
questioned  him  closely, 
seeking  that  they  might 
entrap    him,    he   would 
answer    them    with    a 
multitude     of     words ; 
nevertheless    would    he 
not  say  anything.    And 
when  the  time  came,  he 
did  go. 

42  flAnd    concerning 
the  other  rulers  of  the 
land  of  En  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Great  War, 
is  it  not  written  in  the 
Book  of  Stubbs?     Both 
their    names    and    the 
streets  wherein  they  did 
have    their   habitations, 
thou  shalt  find  them  in 
that  Book  in  the  order 
that  is  of  the  alphabet. 


24 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


[CH.  IV. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


1  The  caution  of  the  rulers. 
4  They  make  them  a  cen- 
sor. 11  The  people  com- 
plain. 14  They  tell  the 
people  more.  15  And  ap- 
point Balf  to  speak  con- 
cerning the  navy.  20  He 
doeth  so.  26  And  becom- 
eth  a  laughing  stock. 


OW  when  the  rulers 
of  the  land  made 
them  a  war,  they  be- 
came very  wary,  fearing 
lest  their  enemies 
should  discover  those 
things  that  they  had  in 
store  for  them. 

2  And  they  said,  the 
one  unto  the  other,  It 
were  prudent  to  say 
nothing  unto  the  com- 
mon people  concerning 
what  we  have  done.  In 
this  manner  shall  we 
preserve  their  peace  of 
mind,  and  it  will  be  a 
means  also  whereby  we 
may  throw  dust  in  the 
eyes  of  the  men  of  Hu. 
But  after  it  is  all  over, 


then  will  we  tell  the  peo- 
ple. 

3  And    because     the 
thing  that  they  did  con- 
template  was   not   pos- 
sible,   therefore    were 
they  constrained  to  tell 
unto  the  people  certain 
things    concerning    the 
war  and  how  went  the 
day. 

4  fl  Nevertheless,  they 
were  affrighted  lest  the 
people  should  learn  too 
much,  and  so  they  made 
them  a  censor.  And  this 
was  one  that  would  say, 
This  is  so,  and  this  only ; 
the  rest,  it  is  not  so. 

5  And  they  that  sold 
news   unto    the    people 
were    vastly    provoked, 
for  it  liked  them  not  to 
be  told  the  things  that 
they    should    say;    also 
was    it    an    hindrance 
unto  them  to  be  circum- 
scribed by  the  truth. 

6  And     when     they 
came  into  the  presence 
of  the  censor  and  bowed 
themselves    low    before 


CH.  IV.] 

him  (for  he  was  a  great 
man),  he  would  have 
none  of  them. 

7  And  he  would  say 
unto  them,  These  three 
lines,   they  are  official: 
but  the  other  things  that 
have  happened,  they  did 
happen  not  at  all. 

8  And  those  amongst 
the  newsdealers  that  did 
know  something  would 
foam  at  the  mouth  in 
the    violence    of    their 
rage.     And  they  would 
spit  upon  the  floor  and 
would  utter  deep  curses. 

9  And  because  he  was 
an  orderly  man,  there- 
fore did  the  censor  make 
him   a  scheme    for   the 
better  administration  of 
all    those    things    that 
were  within  his  author- 
ity.     And    the    scheme 
that  he  did  make,  it  was 
this. 

10  After  a  thing  had 
become    known    in    the 
land  of  Hu  for  the  space 
of    thirty     days,     then 
would  he  deliberate  in 
his  mind  concerning  it. 
And  if  it  seemed  good 
unto   him,   after    seven 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


25 


days  had  passed  he 
would  impart  it  unto 
the  people. 

11  ||  And  there  was  a 
great  outcry  throughout 
all  the  land,  for  this  was 
but  one  of  many  things. 
Verily,  the  patience  of 
Job  was  not  tried  as  the 
patience  of  the  men  of 
En   in   the   days   when 
they  waged  war. 

12  And     the     people 
said    unto    the    rulers, 
"Why  do  ye  these  things, 
ye  men  of  little  under- 
standing?   Are  we  chil- 
dren  that   ye   treat  us 
thus,    and   have   ye   no 
faith  in  the  strength  of 
our  conviction? 

13  All    those    things 
that  are  safe  for  us  to 
know,  them  shall  ye  tell 
unto  us.    And  if  the  tid- 
ings be  good,  assuredly 
we  will  rejoice.    And  if 
the  tidings  be  bad,  they 
shall  but  serve  to  fortify 
our  purpose.     The  tem- 
pest disturbeth  the  wa- 
ters, the  tempest  reveal- 
eth  the  rock. 

14  ft  And    the    rulers 
heard  what  the  people 


26 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


[CH.  IV. 


did  say,  and  they  heark- 
ened unto  them.  And 
they  said  unto  him  that 
was  the  censor,  The  peo- 
ple are  complaining  be- 
cause they  know  not 
how  goes  the  day. 
Therefore  shalt  thou  tell 
them  more  about  it :  but 
take  care  that  it  be  not 
much  more.  And  he 
did  that  which  the  rul- 
ers had  told  him  to  do. 

15  ft  And    the    rulers 
of  the  land  did  also  call 
umto     them     a    certain 
man,  and  his  name  was 
Ball    And  he  was  over 
all  the  vessels  of  war,  a 
mighty    force,    supreme 
upon  the  seas. 

16  And      they     said 
unto  him,  Because  thou 
art  thou,  therefore  shalt 
thou  say  unto  the  peo- 
ple whatsoever  seemeth 
good  unto  thee. 

17  For   thou   hast   a 
wise    head    and   a    still 
tongue,  and  whatsoever 
thou  sayest,  it  will  not 
be  too  much. 

18  Now    it    came    to 
pass  that  the  vessels  of 
the  men  of  En  did  fight 


with  the  vessels  of  the 
men  of  Hu  in  a  great 
battle,  and  it  raged  for 
a  long  time. 

19  And  before  it  was 
come  to  an  end,  behold, 
the  vessels  of  the  men  of 
Hu     did     steal     away 
quickly    and    did    hide 
them  in  a  mist,  for  the 
day  had  not  gone  well 
with    them,    and    they 
were  sore  afflicted. 

20  flAnd  when  word 
was  brought  unto  Balf 
concerning    the    battle, 
and      concerning      the 
numbers  that  had  per- 
ished on  both  sides,  he 
did  call  the  people  unto 
him,  and  he  spake  unto 
them,  saying, 

21  Woe    is    this    day 
that  hath  brought  deso- 
lation unto  En.     Know 
ye,  O  my  brothers,  how 
many  be  slain  of  them 
that  sailed  against  the 
men  of  Hu  ?    Assuredly, 
the  number  thereof,  it  is 
very  great.    And  of  the 
vessels  of  war,  there  be 
many   destroyed.     Ver- 
ily is  this  a  day  that  is 
full  of  woe. 


CH.  IV.] 

22  And  when  the  peo- 
ple heard  that  which  he 
did  say  unto  them,  they 
were  perturbed  beyond 
measure,    fearing    they 
knew  not  what. 

23  And   after  a   cer- 
tain time  had  passed  by, 
he    called    the    people 
unto  him  again,  and  he 
spake  unto  them,  saying, 
Wherefore  are  ye  per- 
turbed   and    why    cast 
down  ? 

24  Listen  unto  me,  ye 
men  of  gloom,  and  re- 
joice at  my  words.    For 
in  that  battle  whereof  I 
have    told    you,    many 
perished      that      sailed 
from  En;  but  amongst 
the  men  of  Hu  there  was 
carnage  that  was  great 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


27 


beyond  compare.  And 
that  day  did  see  our  ad- 
versary vanquished  in 
the  fight. 

25  And     they     that 
heard  him  were  amazed 
and  said,  the  one  unto 
the  other,  What  strange 
fruits,  these,  of  his  phi- 
losophy ! 

26  ffBut    the    news- 
mongers gloried  in  his 
foolishness,    because   he 
was  the  mouthpiece  of 
the  rulers. 

27  Nevertheless,      he 
that  was  the  censor  re- 
laxed not  his  vigilance, 
so     that    nothing    was 
known  in  the  land  of  En 
save   only  those   things 
that  were  necessary  for 
to  quiet  the  people. 


28 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


[CH.  V. 


CHAPTER  V. 

1  Concerning  the  changes 
that  were  wrought  by  the 
war.  2  The  debtors  are 
given  grace.  4  Strong 
drink  becometh  hard  to 
get.  10  It  groweth  diffi- 
cult to  make  a  journey. 
16  The  bazaars  are  closed 
at  an  early  hour.  20  Much 
money  is  earned  by  the 
workers.  22  The  manner 
of  spending  it. 

AND  these  are  certain 
of  the  things  that 
did  come  to  pass  in  the 
land  of  En  during 
the  days  of  the  Great 
War. 

2  flNow  immediately 
that    there    was    war, 
grace    was    given   unto 
them  that  were  in  debt ; 
and  that  which  they  did 
owe,  for  a  certain  time 
they  did  not  pay  it. 

3  Therefore   was   the 
war    a    mixed    blessing 
unto  such  as  these,  and 
in  those  places  that  are 
beyond  the  Gate  of  Not- 
ting  Hill,   the  days  of 


grace  were  welcomed 
with  the  sound  of  tim- 
brels and  there  was 
much  rejoicing. 

4  ffAnd    those    that 
drank  not  strong  drink 
set  them  to  work.    And 
they     concealed      their 
purpose     beneath     the 
shadow  of  the  war,  and 
they  prevailed  upon  the 
rulers  to  be  an  help  unto 
them. 

5  And  so  it  was  that 
the  doors  of  the  taverns 
were  closed  against  the 
people  save  only  for  five 
hours  during  the  day; 
neither  was  it  lawful  for 
them  to  buy  any  strong 
drink   from   the   publi- 
cans except  at  the  time 
appointed. 

6  In  this  wise  did  the 
water  bibbers  advantage 
their    object,    for    they 
had    rightly    conceived 
that    the    war    was    an 
hefty    lever    wherewith 
to  work  their  will. 

7  And      those      that 
drank  of  the  juice  of  the 


CH.   V.] 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


29 


grape  did  become  quick 
at  the  swallow,  for  the 
time  that  they  did  have, 
it  ivas  short. 

8  And  the  preachers 
and  all  those  that  did 
meddle   with   the   inde- 
pendence of  the  people 
were   filled   with    pious 
joy,  and  they  rejoiced  in 
their      tabernacles      of 
stone  and  of  tin,  and  in 
their    habitations    also, 
saying,    Thus    are    the 
wicked     punished     and 
the  thirsty  sent  empty 
away. 

9  And    because    the 
publicans  were  the  peo- 
ple to  go  for,  and  they 
did  know  it,   therefore 
did  they  not  complain; 
and   the    cocoa   gulpers 
triumphed  on  that  day. 

10  |  Now  there  were 
many  sojourning  in  the 
land  of  En  that  came  of 
an  hostile  country.  And 
because    they    were    a 
danger  unto   the  state, 
therefore  did  the  rulers 
make  new  laws  concern- 
ing them. 

11  And  to   this  end, 
whosoever     did     travel 


unto  certain  places  was 
commanded  to  write 
him  his  name  in  a  book 
that  was  at  the  inn 
where  he  did  rest. 

12  Now  when  a  man 
and  a  woman  did  jour- 
ney unto  the  sea  and  did 
sojourn     there     for     a 
week-end,    then    would 
they  say  unto   all  and 
sundry,  Behold,  a  priest 
has   licensed   us   to    do 
this  thing,   for  we  are 
wed. 

13  And  sometimes  it 
was  so:  but  there  were 
some  that  did  lie  about 
it,  hoping  perchance  to 
save      them      lodgment 
money,  or  fearing  to  of- 
fend the  righteous. 

14  Therefore  was  the 
new  law  a  cause  of  vexa- 
tion unto  them,  for  to 
write   in   a   book   their 
true  names,  it  was  not 
wise ;  and  to  write  them 
names  that  were  false,  it 
was  a  dangerous  thing 
and  costly  withal. 

15  And  though  many 
complained     in     secret, 
nevertheless,   there  was 
no  change  made  in  the 


30 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


[CH.  V. 


law,  for  the  rulers  of  the 
land  did  rightly  own 
no  knowledge  touching 
such  affairs;  and  they 
that  did  transgress  did 
pay  the  penalty. 

16  flAnd  it  was  or- 
dained that  all  the  ba- 
zaars    throughout     the 
land  should  close  them 
their     doors     at     eight 
hours  after  midday. 

17  Yea,     even     unto 
them  that  sold  tobacco 
and  unto  the  vendors  of 
sweet    stuffs    was     the 
mandate  sent.    And  be- 
cause these  were  used  to 
ply     their     trades     by 
night  as  well  as  by  day, 
therefore  did  the  order 
seem  the  more  amazing 
unto  them. 

18  And    the    damsels 
liked  it  not  because  of 
their    stomachs.       And 
when  a  man  did  go  for 
to    buy   him    cigarettes 
and  it  was  too  late,  he 
would     utter     maledic- 
tions upon  the  doorstep ; 
and   the   next   time   he 
would  remember. 

19  And  in  the  time  of 
his  extremity  the  mar- 


ried man  did  borrow 
from  his  wife;  and  it 
did  cost  him  dear  be- 
cause she  did  have  her 
price.  Verily,  whatso- 
ever she  desired,  that 
did  she  get  out  of  him, 
for  the  moment  was  fa- 
vourable unto  her  pur- 
pose. 

20  ff  And  many  were 
put  to  labour  on  muni- 
tions, and  they  did  work 
them   long  hours   at   a 
goodly  recompense. 

21  And      when      the 
week  was  come  unto  its 
end,  then  did  they  re- 
ceive their  hire ;  and  be- 
cause it  was  a   lot   of 
money,   they  knew  not 
what  to  do  with  it. 

22  fl And         some 
bought     them    musical 
instruments ;    wherefore 
was    there    great    com- 
plaining amongst  those 
that  lived  round  about, 
for  the  noise  that  they 
did  make  was  as  the  har- 
mony of  the  damned. 

23  And  amongst  the 
women,  there  were  some 
that   bought   them   fea- 
thers and  ribands  of  a 


CH.   V,] 


THE  BOOK   OP   ARTEMAS 


31 


gaudy  hue;  and  they 
adorned  themselves 
most  wonderfully. 

24  And      whensoever 
they  ventured  forth  into 
the  public  places,  there 
was  a  stir  amongst  the 
populace.     Yea,   verily, 
from  the  north  unto  the 
south,  and  from  the  east 
unto  the  west,  whereso- 
ever they  appeared,  the 
people  were  amazed  at 
the  strangeness  of  their 
garb. 

25  But     there     were 
many  that  being  full  of 
wisdom  and  aflame  with 
love  of  En,  did  lend  a 
part  of  that  which  they 
earned  unto  the  rulers 
of     the     land     for     to 
buy  them  munitions  of 
war. 

26  And,       howsoever 
much     it    was,    it    did 
breed  them  profits  dur- 
ing every  year  that  it 
was  away,  so  that  they 
prospered    and    became 
men  of  substance. 

27  Nevertheless,  there 
was  fear  in  them  that 
when  the  war  was  come 
to    an    end    the    rulers 


would  take  from  each  so 
much,  saying  unto  him, 
A  good  and  faithful 
servant  has  thou  been 
and  prudent,  and  thou 
wast  an  help  unto  us 
when  we  had  need  of 
thee.  And  now,  listen: 

28  Inasmuch    as   thy 
brothers     have     wasted 
their  substance  on  idle 
things    of    no    account, 
therefore   are   they   be- 
come paupers,  and  they 
are  hungerstarved. 

29  But  thou  hast  been 
saving  in  the  past  and 
thine  hire  has  bred  thee 
profits.      Thy   foresight 
has  delivered  thee  from 
want  during  all  the  days 
of  thy  life. 

30  Therefore        shalt 
thou  pay  so  much  unto 
each  of  thy  poor  breth- 
ren, for  in  this  wise  they 
shall    have    subsistence 
that  will  keep  them  safe 
from  want. 

31  And    the    wasters 
winked   them   each   the 
left  eye,  for  they  knew 
full  well  that  when  the 
time    came    that    they 
were  impoverished,  then 


32 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


would  the  thrifty  ones 
be  taxed  for  to  feed 
them. 

32  For     the     frugal 


[CH.   V. 

man  shall  sweat ;  but  the 
waster,  he  shall  lap  it 
up.  And  so  it  icas  in 
the  land  of  En. 


CH.   VI.] 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


33 


CHAPTER   VI. 

1  The  chief  amongst  the  tax 
gatherers  speaketh  unto 
the  people.  5  They  heark- 
en unto  him.  9  Wherefore 
the  price  of  paper  increas- 
eth.  12  The  people  are 
divided  amongst  them- 
selves concerning  the  notes 
of  paper.  17  The  nature 
thereof.  19  The  people 
lend  their  money  unto  the 
rulers.  26  And  the  land 
of  En  becometh  mighty. 

A  ND  because  there 
•**•  was  war,  therefore 
did  he  that  was  chief 
amongst  the  tax  gather- 
ers send  word  unto  the 
people  regarding  what 
they  should  do.  And  he 
said  unto  them,  Heark- 
en unto  me,  all  ye  men 
of  wealth,  and  obey  my 
behests. 

2  Ye  know  that  the 
hosts  of  En  are  gone  out 
against  a  mighty  enemy, 
against  a  strong  foe  and 
one  that  is  wary.  And 
his  armaments  are  ter- 
rible beyond  anything 
seen  by  men  before. 


Therefore  it  behoves  us 
to  gird  up  our  loins  for 
the  fray,  because  it  will 
be  a  fight  unto  the 
death. 

3  And    all    the    gold 
that  ye  have,  that  bring 
ye  unto  me,  and  I  will 
give  you  notes  that  are 
of  paper  in  place  of  it. 
And  whatsoever  ye  may 
buy  with  gold,  that  may 
ye    also   buy    with   the 
notes  of  paper. 

4  And    our    strength 
will   be    great   amongst 
the    nations,    for    gold 
maketh  a  good  ambassa- 
dor.    And  we  will  buy 
us    deadly    engines    of 
war  and  munitions  in  a 
great    quantity,    for    a 
long  purse  sufficeth  in 
all  things. 

5  ft  And  so  the  people 
did  bring  gold  unto  the 
rulers,  some  in  pieces  of 
ten,  some  in  pieces  of  an 
hundred,    and  some   in 
pieces    of    a    thousand. 
Verily,    whatever    gold 
the    people    did    have, 


34 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


that  did  they  bring  with 
them. 

6  And  as  the  people 
delivered      their      gold 
unto  the  one  appointed, 
he  would  say  unto  them, 
How    many    pieces    of 
gold  hast  thou  brought, 
brother  ?    And  he  would 
answer     them,     saying, 
Such  and  such  a  num- 
ber have  I  brought. 

7  And  he  would  ex- 
change him  the  gold  for 
notes  of  paper,  even  one 
note  of  paper  for  each 
piece  of  gold  that  he  did 
bring  with  him. 

8  And  the  weight  of 
gold  that  was  exchanged 
in   those    days,    it   was 
very  heavy,  so  that  it 
did  take  seven  hundred 
seventy  and  seven  thou- 
sands of  elephants  for  to 
move  it. 

9  f  And  the  number 
of  the   notes   of  paper 
was   beyond   all   count- 
ing.     Wherefore    there 
was  a  dearth  of  paper  in 
the  land  and  the  price 
of   it   became    an    high 
one. 

10  And      they      that 


[CH.  VI. 

were  dealers  in  books 
demanded  five  shekels  of 
silver  for  their  wares; 
and  before,  they  did  ask 
only  four  shekels  of  sil- 
ver and  six  pieces  of 
copper. 

11  Nevertheless,  there 
yet    remained    some    in 
the    land    that    bought 
them  books  for  to  read : 
and  the  rest  of  the  peo- 
ple,    recking     not     the 
waste  of  paper,  did  take 
up  their  pens,  and  they 
did   write.     And  Arte- 
mas,  the  scribe,  he  was 
one  of  these. 

12  flAnd    because    it 
was  not  the  custom  in 
the  land  of  En  to  use 
notes    of    paper,     save 
amongst  them  that  were 
rich,  therefore  were  the 
people    divided    among 
themselves      concerning 
it,  whether  it  were  for 
an  advantage. 

13  And     those     that 
were    careless    in    their 
manner  of  living,  they 
liked   it  not.     But  the 
others,   they   were   con- 
tent,   for  the   notes   of 
paper      were      without 


CH.  VI.] 

weight,  and  the  space 
that  they  did  occupy,  it 
was  small. 

14  And  when  a  man, 
thinking  it  a  bill  that 
was  not  paid,  did  throw 
away  a  note  of  paper 
that  was  worth  twenty 
shekels   of   silver,    then 
would   he   curse   aloud, 
using   new   words,    and 
he    would    affright    the 
passers-by  with  the  vio- 
lence   of    his    lamenta- 
tions. 

15  And    because    the 
notes  of  paper  were  thin 
and  did  stick  themselves 
together,   therefore   did 
a     debtor,     being     un- 
aware,   sometimes    give 
the  worth  of  two  pieces 
of    gold    unto    him    to 
whom  he  owed  but  one. 

16  And  this  man  also 
would  sorrow  cursefully 
and  he  would  tear  his 
hair.     And   Willi,   that 
was  the  cause  of  it,  he 
would  consign  him  unto 
the  nethermost  part  of 
Hell. 

17  ft  And  the  notes  of 
paper    were    not    alike, 
being  writ  in  two  col- 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


35 


ours;  and  the  one  col- 
our, it  was  black,  and 
the  other  colour,  it  wa$ 
red. 

18  And  one  of  those 
that  were  writ  in  black 
was  as  much  as  two  that 
were  writ  in  red ;  where- 
fore, and  because  they 
were  passing  rare,  they 
found   great   favour  in 
the  eyes  of  the  people. 

19  ff  Now  it  came  to 
pass  that  the  rulers  did 
have  a  need  of  money 
for  to  buy  them  imple- 
ments of  war.  And  they 
sent  word  unto  the  peo- 
ple concerning  it. 

20  And    immediately 
there  arrived  at  the  re- 
ceipt of  custom  a  great 
multitude  of  men,  each 
man  bearing  upon   his 
back  a  weight  of  money, 
according  to  his  means. 
And    they    jostled,    the 
one  against  the  other,  in 
their  haste  to  te  first. 

21  And  they  said  un- 
to the  rulers  of  the  land, 
All  that  which  we  have 
brought  with  us,  that  do 
we  lend  unto  you.     Go 
ye   out,   therefore,   and 


36 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


buy  ye  the  things  that 
are  necessary.  Neither 
shall  ye  stint  yourselves 
in  the  matter,  but  rest 
assured  that  whatsoever 
more  ye  shall  require,  it 
shall  ~be  forthcoming. 

22  And  the  notes  of 
paper    that    they    did 
bring  unto  the  rulers  of 
the  land  were  in  num- 
ber   as    the    blades    of 
grass  in  a  meadow  that 
extendeth  out  of  sight. 
Yea,  even  more  than  the 
words  of  the  rulers  was 
the  number  thereof,  not- 
withstanding   that    the 
jaws  of  these  were  for 
ever  agitated. 

23  So    the   rulers   of 
the  land  did  set  out  for 
to  buy  them  munitions 
of  war  in  a  great  quan- 


[CH.   VI. 

tity ;  even  all  that  which 
they  did  require  did 
they  set  out  for  to  buy. 

24  And  all  the  mer- 
chants    of     the     world 
came  in  unto  them  and 
displayed    their    wares 
before  them;  and  they 
were  eager  for  to  make 
the  bargain  and  to  traf- 
fick  with  the  rulers. 

25  For  the  power  of 
money  was  great  in  that 
time,  and  the  things  that 
it    could    not    do,    they 
were  not. 

26  ft  And  "because  the 
people  brought  unto  the 
rulers  money  that  was 
of  a  value  beyond  cal- 
culation, therefore  was 
the    might   of   En    felt 
throughout       all       the 
world. 


CH.  VII.] 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


37 


CHAPTER  VII. 

1  The  country  is  bereft  of 
its  young  men.  2  The  rul- 
ers send  unto  the  women. 
3  Who  make  them  muni- 
tions of  war.  4  And  sell 
merchandise  in  the  ba- 
gaars.  8  And  watch  over 
the  people.  11  They  re- 
ceive much  money.  14 
Concerning  a  certain  man 
that  imbibed  too  freely.  23 
The  women  work  on  the 
land.  34  They  rebel. 


it  came  to  pass 
that  all  the  young 
men  went  forth  for  to 
fight,  and  there  re- 
mained only  those  that 
were  old  or  infirm  and 
some  that  had  sneaked 
them  through. 

2  fl  And  because  there 
was  much  work  to  be 
done,  therefore  did  the 
rulers  of  the  land  send 
word  unto  the  women, 
saying,  Come  ye  unto 
the  workshops  of  the 
cities  and  there  do  all 
those  things  that  the 
young  men  were  wont 
to  do.  And  they  came 


as  with  one  accord. 
3  fl  And  they  did  make 
them  munitions  of  war 
of  many  kinds,  and  did 
become  skilled  artificers, 
both  in  metal  and  in 
wood;  and  they  rested 
not  from  their  labours, 
save  only  on  the  days 
appointed. 

4  flAnd    there    were 
others  that  did  sell  mer- 
chandise in  the  bazaars. 
And  so  it  fell  out  that 
when  a  man  went  forth 
for  to  buy  him  under- 
vestments,    the    damsel 
that  was  in  the  bazaar 
would    say    unto    him, 
What  is  thy  need,  0  son 
of  man  ? 

5  And  he  was  ashamed 
to  tell  her  all  that  which 
was  in  his  heart,  and  he 
knew  not  what  to  say; 
wherefore  was  he  halt- 
ing in  his  speech  and  his 
countenance  did  take  on 
the  colour  of  blood. 

6  But  the  maiden  that 
did  tend  unto  his  wants, 
she  was  in  no  wise  dis- 


38 


THE   BOOK   OP   ARTEMAS 


[CH.   VII. 


quieted,  and  she  did  be- 
seech him  to  impart  un- 
to her  the  name  of  the 
thing. 

1  And,  afterwards,  she 
did  hold  up  the  leg  of 
the  garment  for  ap- 
praisement and  did  raise 
her  voice  in  praise  of  it. 
And  the  young  man  was 
brought  into  a  proper 
state  upon  the  instant, 
so  that  he  did  buy  what- 
soever she  did  shew  un- 
to him.  And  his  going 
out  from  that  place  was 
quicker  than  his  coming 
in. 

8  flAnd    there    were 
women  appointed  for  to 
see  that  the  people  did 
no  wrong  thing.     And 
certain  of  these  did  be- 
take them  on  the  dark 
nights    unto    the    quiet 
places  at  a  time  when 
the  mating  season  was 
nigh. 

9  And  they  did  flash 
them   a  light   on   those 
that  were  unready;  but 
those    that     did    know 
about  it,  them  did  they 
find      better      circum- 
stanced. 


10  And     the     people 
liked  it  not,   for  there 
was  no  place  that  was 
safe  unto  them,  and  the 
course  of  true  love  was 
an  hard  one  and  much 
beset  with  spies. 

11  flAnd  because  the 
women  were  given  high 
places  in  the  land,  there- 
fore   was    their    recom- 
pense high  also,  and  the 
money    that    they    did 
earn,  it  was  a  large  sum. 

12  And  so  it  came  to 
pass   that   certain   men 
that  were  mean  of  spirit 
forsook     their     labours 
and  became  idle.     And 
when   men    spake   unto 
them  concerning  it  and 
upbraided    them,    they 
answered  them,  saying, 
Wherefore  should  we  go 
about    it?      And    why 
should  we  toil  ?    Are  not 
our  wives  diligent,  and 
do  they  not  provide  for 
us    according    to    their 
means  ? 

13  And     they     that 
heard  them  were  filled 
with   a   great   aversion, 
and  they  were  glad  in 
their  hearts  that  in  all 


CH.  VII.] 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


39 


the  land  of  En  there 
were  few  men  like  unto 
these. 

14  fl  Now  there  was  a 
certain  man  and  he  did 
imbibe   of  the  juice   of 
the  grape  in  a  manner 
that  was  not  wise. 

15  And    every    night 
when  he  returned  unto 
his    habitation    he    was 
full     up     with     strong 
drink;   and  because   he 
sought  his   bedchamber 
in  vain,  therefore  would 
he  make  him  a  couch  up- 
on   the    mat    that    was 
nigh  unto  the  gate. 

16  And  it  was  a  sore 
trial  unto  his  wife,  for 
she  knew  not  what  to  do. 
And  she  did  cast  about 
in  her  mind,  seeking  to 
devise       some       means 
whereby    to    make   him 
whole. 

17  And    because    she 
was  a  woman  wise  be- 
yond the  most,  being  al- 
so   strong    and    lusty, 
therefore   did   she   con- 
trive a  plan ;  and  she  be- 
came one  of  them  that 
looked  after  the  people. 

18  And      the      same 


night  when  her  husband 
returned  unto  her,  walk- 
ing in  soulful  medita- 
tion because  he  was 
drunk,  then  did  she  go 
forth  for  to  greet  him; 
and  she  came  upon  him 
in  the  way. 

19  And  she  called  un- 
to    her     two     women, 
mighty  of  stature,  that 
were    lying   in   ambush 
near  by.    And  the  mus- 
cles of  their  arms  were 
of    a    size    and    their 
strength  was  very  great. 
And  they  took  him. 

20  And    it    came    to 
pass  upon  the  morrow 
that  he  was  brought  be- 
fore   the    judge.      And 
when  he  had  heard  all 
that  the  women  had  to 
say,  he  said  unto  him, 
Assuredly    thou    art    a 
guilty  man. 

21  For  thine  indiscre- 
tion     thou      shalt      be 
mulcted  in  forty  shekels 
of  silver;    and   if  thou 
payest    not    upon    the 
nail,  then  shalt  thou  be 
cast  into  prison,  there  to 
remain  during  fourteen 
days. 


40 


THE  BOOK  OP  AKTEMAS 


22  And    because    he 
was  a  wise  man  when 
the  morning  was  come, 
therefore   he   paid   up; 
and   he    returned   unto 
his    home    much    chas- 
tened.    And  from  that 
day    forth    he    put   all 
strong  drink  away  from 
him,  wherefore  he  was 
called     Tam-ed,     which 
signifieth,      One      that 
hath  been  through  it. 

23  flNow    when    the 
harvest   was   ripe,    and 
there  were  no  labourers 
in    the    fields    for    to 
gather   it   in,   the   hus- 
bandmen that  were  on 
the    land    became    cast 
down  and  they  did  make 
them  an  outcry. 

24  And  certain  wom- 
en     approached      unto 
them,  and  said,  Where- 
fore are  ye  cast  down, 
ye  wealthy  men  of  the 
fields? 

25  Behold,     we    and 
our  sisters  will  gather  in 
the  standing  corn,  and 
in   the  winter  we  will 
prepare  the  ground  for 
the  crops  that  are  to  T>e. 

26  And  because  it  is 


[CH.  VII. 

not  in  them  to  be  other- 
wise, therefore  the  hus- 
bandmen changed  not 
their  countenances  that 
were  woeful;  but  they 
said  unto  the  women, 

27  Forget  ye  not  that 
ye    are    what    ye    are. 
Nevertheless,  because  ye 
say  it,  therefore  it  shall 
be  so.     First  shall   ye 
reap    the    harvest,    and 
afterwards  shall  ye  do 
the  other  things  whereof 
ye  speak. 

28  And  so  the  women 
laboured  all  day  in  the 
fields.      And    they    did 
take     them     cooling 
drinks  amongst  the  corn 
when  the  sun  was  high, 
and  they  did  eat  cream 
that  was  rich  unto  yel- 
lowness, and  also  pasties 
in    abundance.     Never- 
theless, when  night  was 
come    they    did    sleep; 
neither   did   the   things 
that  they  had  eaten  lie 
heavy  upon  their  stom- 
achs. 

29  And  so  the  harvest 
was    gathered    in    and 
there  was  much  rejoic- 
ing because  of  it.     But 


CH.   VII.] 

amongst  the  husband- 
men there  was  only 
foreboding,  for  such  do 
never  rejoice. 

30  And     when      the 
cold    of   the    year    was 
come,    the   husbandmen 
spake  unto  the  women, 
saying,  Now  is  the  time 
when  ye  shall  go  forth 
to  prepare  the  ground 
for  the  crops  that  are 
to  ~be. 

31  And  so  the  women 
went  forth.    And  when 
they  had  come  unto  the 
place  appointed,  behold, 
there  was  a  great  heap 
before  them,  and  it  was 
manure.     And  the  hus- 
bandmen drew  nigh  and 
they  said  unto  the  wom- 
en, 

32  All   this  shall  ye 
spread  upon  the  fields, 
and  more  also.    And  it 
shall  come  to  pass,  after 
that  ye  have  digged  it 
in,  that  the  earth  shall 
be    renewed;    and    the 
crops  that  ye  shall  sow, 
these  shall  flourish  ex- 
ceedingly.      And     the 
husbandmen  went  their 
way. 


THE  BOOK  OF  AETEMAS 


41 


33  Now  the  heap  that 
was  manure,  it  was  an 
abomination ;    and    the 
stink    thereof    was    so 
great   that    the    women 
did  cover  over  their  nos- 
trils with  cambric  and 
with  pieces  of  fine  lace. 

34  j[And     they     fol- 
lowed   after    the    hus- 
bandmen with   one   ac- 
cord,   and    spake    unto 
them,    saying,    "We    did 
gather    in    your    corn, 
even  the   oats  and  the 
barley  did  we  reap  for 
you:   and   the   hay,   we 
did  make  it  into  stacks. 

35  And  the  husband- 
men    answered     them, 
saying,  Verily  all  these 
things  whereof  ye  speak, 
them  did  ye  do. 

36  And    the    women 
said    unto    them,     The 
scent  of  the  harvest  was 
sweet  unto  our  nostrils; 
but    this   heap    that    is 
manure,  it  is  a  stinking 
thing,  and  we  will  have 
none  of  it. 

37  So     they     turned 
them    about    and    hied 
them  unto  the  cities  for 
to  become  scribes.    And 


42 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


they  did  spend  the 
wages  of  their  first 
week's  hire  upon  a 
measure  of  choice  per- 


[CH.  VII. 

fume.  Nevertheless,  the 
stink  of  the  heap  that 
was  manure  abode  with 
them  during  many  days. 


CH.   VIII.] 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


43 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

1  The  rulers  make  them  new 
laws.  2  And  close  the  ba- 
zaars. 5  They  give  more 
light.  9  They  tax  the 
profits  that  were  made  be- 
cause of  the  war.  13 
Bribery  flour  isheth.  15 
The  petrol  is  conserved. 
18  They  that  seeTc  after 
pleasure  are  taxed.  20 
The  taxes  are  paid  gladly. 
23  Concerning  commis- 
sions. 29  And  Northcliffe. 


heed,  all  ye 
that  read,  and  pay 
attention,  for  these  are 
the  things  that  the  rul- 
ers of  the  land  of  En 
did  lay  upon  the  people 
at  a  time  when  there 
was  war. 

2  1f  Now  they  did 
make  them  a  law  and 
did  enjoin  upon  all  the 
dealers  in  merchandise 
that  they  should  cease 
from  trafficking  in  the 
market  places  in  the 
youth  of  the  night  ;  yea, 
at  eight  hours  after 
midday  were  they  con- 
strained to  stop  from 


selling  their  wares  and 
merchandise. 

3  And      the      reason 
thereof   was    uncertain, 
some  saying  it  was  for  a 
means   of    saving    fuel, 
whilst  others  did  say  it 
was  because  those  that 
served    in    the    bazaars 
were    few    and    needed 
them  rest. 

4  But      there      were 
many   that   did   say  it 
ivas  but  the  spirit  of  in- 
terference that  was  rife 
in  the  land;  and  they 
were   filled  with   suspi- 
cion, thinking  that  the 
early  closers  were  grind- 
ing them  their  axe. 

5  f  And  in  the  sum- 
mer   season    the    rulers 
did  give  unto  the  people 
more  light.    And  it  was 
the    light   of   day   that 
they  bestowed,  but  up- 
on   the    doings    of   the 
war  they  shed  no  more 
light. 

6  Now  the  giving  of 
more  light  was  one  of 
the  things  that  the  ml- 


44 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


ers  did  wisely,  where- 
fore the  people  did 
praise  them;  and  they 
were  amazed,  for  it  was 
not  the  custom  amongst 
the  men  of  En  to  praise 
the  rulers  of  the  land. 

7  Neither   was    there 
often  cause  therefor,  for 
a  wise  ruler  is  precious 
beyond    price,    howbeit 
many   a   fool   is   raised 
unto  an  high  place ; 

8  For  the  fool  speak- 
eth   sometimes   wisdom, 
and  it  is  recorded.    But 
the  foolishness  of  fools 
do  men  forget. 

9  ft  And  certain  men 
did  set  them  about  for 
to  find  a  means  whereby 
they  might  make  a  good 
thing  out  of  the  war. 

10  And    when    word 
was    brought   unto    the 
rulers  concerning  what 
they   were   doing,   they 
did  make  them   a  law. 
And  they  did  take  un- 
to themselves  a  certain 
share   from   the   profits 
that     these     men     did 
gather  in. 

11  And     those     that 
were   at   one   with   the 


[CH.   VIII. 

patriots  complained 
not ;  and  those  that  were 
making  them  enough, 
neither  did  these  com- 
plain. 

12  And  they  that  did 
do  things  for  the  rulers 
out    of    the    generosity 
of    their    hearts,    even 
these   went   not   empty 
away. 

13  ft  And  there  were 
certain     men     amongst 
the  servants  of  the  rul- 
ers   that    did    ask    for 
sweet  oil,  and  they  did 
say    unto    the    traders, 
Grease  thou  the  palms 
of   our  hands  that  we 
may  bargain  with  thee 
to  thy  advantage. 

14  And     those     that 
were    found    out    were 
cast    into    prison,    and 
their    names    did    stink 
most  vilely   throughout 
the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  land. 

15  ff  And    because    it 
was  a  prudent  thing  to 
do,  the  rulers  gave  unto 
them  that  had  chariots 
only  so  much  of  what 
men  called  petrol  as  was 
left     over.      And     the 


CH.  VIII.] 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


45 


hosts  of  En  did  receive 
their  portion  before  all 
others. 

16  Therefore       those 
that       were       wealthy 
amongst  the  people  used 
not  their  chariots  save 
when   there   was   need; 
and  they  that  were  used 
to  joy  ride,  they  did  do 
so  no  more. 

17  For  in  all  matters 
were  the  people  ready  to 
make     them     sacrifices 
unto  the   needs   of  the 
war,  and  they  did  do  all 
those  things  that  were 
required  of  them  for  to 
bring  nearer  the  end  of 
it. 

18  flAnd   a  tax  was 
made    upon    all    those 
that    did    go   unto    the 
theatre;  yea,  even  upon 
them  that  did  view  the 
pictures  and  upon  them 
that     did     watch     men 
playing  ivith  a  ball,  was 
the  tax  imposed. 

19  And     because     it 
was  not  much,  and  was, 
moreover,    a    righteous 
tax,    they    did    pay    it 
gladly;  and  the  number 
of    them    that    did    go 


unto  such  places,  it  was 
not  less  than  before. 

20  flAnd  there  were 
other    taxes    also    and 
they     were      exceeding 
heavy,   so   that  all   the 
money  that  was  paid  by 
the  people  unto  the  tax 
gatherers  was  great  be- 
yond anything  that  men 
had  thought  possible. 

21  Nevertheless  there 
was   no   murmuring  in 
the  land,  and  the  people 
did      push,      the      one 
against  the  other,  to  be 
first   at   the   receipt  of 
custom,  every  man  with 
his  money  in  his  hand. 

22  And  he  that  was 
the    chief    amongst    all 
the   tax    gatherers   was 
amazed.    And  he  spake 
unto  several  concerning 
it,  saying,  Are  not  these 
that    do    shower    their 
gold  upon  me  the  same 
that  before  did  curse  my 
name?     When  I  asked 
for  a  mite,  they  reviled 
me      shamefully ;      yet, 
now  I  ask  for  much,  be- 
hold, they  bring  it  flow- 
ing over.    For  he  under- 
stood not  that  this  was 


46 


THE  BOOK  OP  AETEMAS 


[CH.  VIII. 


the  spirit  of  the  nation. 

23  flNow  when  there 
was    any    matter    that 
was  beyond  the  rulers  so 
that  they  knew  not  what 
to  do,  they  would  ap- 
point  them    a   commis- 
sion for  to  inquire  con- 
cerning it. 

24  And  a  commission 
was  an  assembly  of  wise 
men    that    were    some- 
times foolish;  and  they 
would  gather  themselves 
together,       and       they 
would  question  all  and 
sundry,  and  they  would 
talk. 

25  But       lest       they 
should  do  some  thing  in 
their  carryings  on,  the 
rulers  would  give  them 
instruction    and    would 
speak   unto   them,   say- 
ing, 

26  Go  ye  into  a  room 
apart  and  gather  round. 
And    send    the    young 
men  into  the  highways 
and    into    the    byways 
that    they    may    bring 
unto  you  all  them  that 
know  aught  concerning 
the  matter.    And  what- 
soever   they    may    say 


unto  you,  that  shall  ye 
hear. 

27  Afterwards,        ye 
shall  make  us  a  report, 
for    that    doeth    injury 
unto  no  man.    But  woe 
be  unto  you  if  ye  shall 
do    anything    that    ex- 
ceedeth    our    command- 
ment;  verily  shall  our 
wrath~burn  thee  up,  and 
thy     bones     shall     fall 
away  into  dust. 

28  By  this  means  did 
the  rulers  put  away  for 
a  long  time  those  things 
that  were  vexatious  unto 
them,    having    faith    in 
the  memory  of  the  peo- 
ple  that   it  was   short. 
Therefore    was    a   com- 
mission unto  the  rulers 
as  a  bag  of  sand  unto 
him  that  fighteth,  for  it 
was  a  shield.    And  the 
day     was     not     known 
whereon  the  rulers  ap- 
pointed them  not  a  com- 
mission. 

29  ff  But  there  was  a 
certain    man    and    his 
name    was    Northcliffe. 
And  the  people  were  di- 
vided   into   two    camps 
concerning    him,    some 


CH.  VIII.] 

saying  that  he  was  a 
raiser  of  scares,  whilst 
others  did  say  that  he 
knew  things.  And  all 
were  agreed  that  he  was 
a  thorn  in  the  side  of 
the  rulers. 

30  And  when  a  com- 
mission did  bring  its  re- 
port unto  the  rulers, 
then  did  these  retire 
unto  the  privacy  of 
their  bedchambers. 
And  the  report  they  did 
take  with  them  for  to 
be  a  pillow  unto  their 
heads. 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


47 


31  And       Northcliffe 
would  raise  his  voice  on 
high  and  he  would  say 
many      bitter      words. 
And    he    would    arouse 
them   and  would  make 
them  to  do  things. 

32  And  though  many 
were    against    him    be- 
cause   of    it,    the    good 
that  he  did  do  was  man- 
ifest.    And  because  he 
left    not   the    rulers    to 
sleep,  therefore  did  men 
call      him      Helsabout, 
which      meaneth      The 
Awakener. 


48 


THE  BOOK  OF  AETEMAS 


[CH.  IX. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

I  Darkness  in  the  cities.  5 
The  young  things  rejoice. 
7  And  love  flourisheth.  10 
Many  errors  are  commit- 
ted. 14  Concerning  what 
happened  unto  a  certain 
young  man.  27  The  rea- 
son thereof.  30  One  par- 
doneth  the  little  boys. 


the  rulers  sent 
them  word  unto  all 
the  cities,  saying,  Let 
there  be  no  light;  and 
there  was  no  light. 

2  And  every  man  did 
hide  his  candle  under  a 
bushel,  else  did  he  pay 
for  his  rashness  in  many 
shekels  of  silver.     Yea, 
there  was  even  darkness 
upon  the  highways  and 
in   those    places   where 
the  people  did  pass  to 
and  fro.    And  the  dark- 
ness  did   breed   confu- 
sion. 

3  Now  they  that  lived 
in    Lon    were    in    two 
minds     concerning     it. 
And  some  that  did  sell 
merchandise  in  the  ba- 


zaars, they  did  make 
them  a  noise,  being  per- 
turbed because  of  their 
pockets.  And  there 
were  others  that  did  ut- 
ter loud  manifestations 
of  joy.  And  the  old 
women  that  were  there, 
these  ventured  not  forth 
after  the  sun  was  set. 

4  And  they  that  were 
dealers  in  merchandise 
did  make  loud  lamenta- 
tions  and    did    put    on 
sackcloth  and   ashes, 
saying,    "Wherefore 
should  we  sit  in  dark- 
ness ?    And  why  cry  our 
wares   in   the    shadow? 
And  because  men  knew 
them,     therefore     they 
heeded  them  not. 

5  ft  But  amongst  the 
young  things  of  the  city 
there  was  great  rejoic- 
ing, for  the  mandate,  it 
was  welcome  unto  them. 

6  And  they  said,  the 
one  unto  the  other,  Be- 
hold, it  is  dark.    Let  us, 
therefore,        advantage 
ourselves  somewhat. 


CH.   IX.] 

7  ft  And  they  did  hie 
them  in  pairs  unto  the 
quiet      places ;      verily, 
every    male     did    take 
with  him  a  female  as  his 
companion,     and     they 
did  talk  of  love. 

8  And    because     the 
Bishop  of  that  city  was 
against    love,    and    be- 
cause there  were  many 
sojourning    there     that 
did  pry,   therefore   did 
the   swains    speak    low, 
fearing  lest  the   eaves- 
droppers   should    come 
upon  them. 

9  And     there     were 
many    that    did    plight 
their  troths,  because  it 
was  their  opportunity; 
and      many      promises 
were  given  in  vain. 

10  flAnd    because    it 
was    dark,    women    of 
strange  countenance  did 
get  them  off  with  men, 
for  a  cheek  that  was  fair 
as  the  petals  of  the  hys- 
sop was  of  no  avail  in 
the  night  time. 

11  Even  so,  there  was 
many  a  woman  that  did 
lose    her   man    ere    the 
passing     of     the     first 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


49 


lamp.  And  he  that  was 
once  bit,  on  the  next  oc- 
casion he  did  carry  a 
torch  in  his  hand  for  to 
see  what  it  was. 

12  And  if  a  man  did 
bump  him  into  his  own 
wife,  he  would  say  po- 
lite things,  for  he  did 
not  know  her ; 

13  And    because    he 
did    say    polite    things, 
there    -e,  neither  would 
she    know    him.      And 
strange  things  did  hap- 
pen because  of  it. 

14  ft  Now  it  came  to 
pass  that  a  certain  man 
was  returning  unto  his 
habitation    at    an   hour 
when  the  night  was  far 
gone. 

15  And    it    was    the 
custom  in  that  city  to 
travel  in  a  carriage  that 
did  go  in  part  beneath 
the    ground;    and    the 
reason  thereof  was  be- 
cause it  was  quick. 

16  And,  behold,  as  he 
proceeded    on    his   way 
and  was  come  nigh  unto 
the  place  of  his  abode, 
suddenly  a  great  dark- 
ness   overcame    him    so 


50 


THE   BOOK   OF   ABTEMAS 


that  he  became  as  one 
that  is  blind. 

17  And  all  the  people 
that  were  with  him  in 
the    carriage   were    dis- 
mayed and  they  did  rise 
upon  their  feet,  and  did 
mingle,  the  one  with  the 
other. 

18  And  he  that  had 
authority   in   that   car- 
riage spake  unto  them 
and    commanded    them 
that    they     should     sit 
down.      And    they    sat 
them  down. 

19  And    it    came    to 
pass    that,     after     the 
young  man  had  sat  him 
down,  behold,  his  right 
hand    was    taken    from 
him  and  it  was  squeezed. 

20  And    even    as    he 
pondered      on      this 
strange  thing  that  was 
happening  unto  him,  be- 
hold, he  was  bereft  of 
his  left  hand  also,  and  it 
was  squeezed. 

21  And  he  was  taken 
unawares  and  knew  not 
what  to  do,  for  he  was  a 
young  man  and  right- 
eous, and  he  was  mar- 
ried unto  a  wife. 


[CH.  IX. 

22  Therefore,   he  sat 
him  still  and  did  wait 
for    whatsoever    might 
come   unto  him.     And, 
lo,  presently  there  was  a 
kiss     given    unto     him 
upon    the    left    cheek; 
and,     afterwards,     was 
there    a   kiss   upon   his 
right  cheek  also. 

23  Yea,     both     upon 
the     right     cheek     and 
upon  the  left  cheek  did 
he   get   him  the  kisses, 
and  it  was  for  a  long 
time. 

24  And     the     kisses 
that  did  fall  upon  his 
left  cheek  were  a  warm- 
ing lot  and  pleasurable ; 
and    the    others,    they 
were    cold.      Therefore 
did  he  turn  him  about 
for  to  lean  towards  the 
side  that  was  hot. 

25  And,    behold,    his 
cheeks  were  seized  upon 
the  instant  between  two 
hands   that   were    soft; 
and   the   one   that  was 
upon  his  left  side  did 
kiss   him  with   earnest- 
ness upon  the  mouth  so 
that  he  trembled  at  the 
touch.    And  because  he 


CH.   IX.] 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


51 


was  become  enamoured 
of  the  pastime,  therefore 
did  he  return  the  kiss 
for  a  long  spell. 

26  And  even  while  it 
yet  happened,  the  light 
was  returned  unto  the 
carriage,  and  he  did  see. 

27  1f  And,    behold, 
upon  his  right  hand  did 
sit  a  man  that  was  lately 
come    back    from     the 
wars;  and  she  that  was 
upon  his  left  hand  was 
a  damsel  very  comely  to 
look  upon  and  blushing 
red. 

28  And     because     it 
was    a    mistake,    there- 
fore was  he  not  kissed 
again   either   upon   the 
right  cheek,  or  upon  the 
left  cheek,  or  yet  upon 
the  mouth. 

29  And  when  he  re- 
turned   him    unto    his 
house,  he  did   get  him 
silently    unto    his    bed- 
chamber.    Neither  told 
he    his    wife    anything 
about  it,  fearing  lest  she 
would  not  understand. 

30  |[  And    concerning 
another  man,  it  is  writ- 


ten that  he  did  tie  a 
piece  of  white  cloth  unto 
the  gate  of  his  house  so 
that  he  might  know  its 
whereabouts  when  the 
moon  was  not  high. 

31  And      the      small 
boys  of  the  neighbour- 
hood did  come  and  they 
took  away  the  piece  of 
white    cloth    that    was 
upon  the  gate  and  they 
did  tie  it  unto  the  portal 
of    an    house    wherein 
there    lived    a    certain 
woman,      of      pleasing 
mien  and  fair  to  look 
upon;  and  her  husband 
was  gone  to  the  wars. 

32  And      when      the 
young     man     returned 
unto  his  habitation,  be- 
hold, the  piece  of  cloth 
that  he  did  leave,  it  was 
not  there;  and  he  was 
deceived  so  that  he  en- 
tered in  unto  the  wrong 
house. 

33  Nevertheless,     the 
young  man  did  forgive 
the  boys  of  the  neigh- 
bourhood for  the  thing 
that  they  had  done  unto 
him. 


52 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


[CH.  2. 


CHAPTER   X. 

1  The  beginning  of  Flag 
Days.  7  The  nature  there- 
of. 10  The  plight  of  the 
males.  14  Their  efforts  to 
escape.  17  The  generos- 
ity of  the  people.  19  The 
disadvantage  of  a  new  al- 
liance. 


it  came  to  pass 
that  those  who  were 
in  the  land  of  En  made 
them  a  custom,  and  they 
did  sanctify  certain 
days  of  the  year  unto 
charity. 

2  And  the  days  that 
were  sanctified  they  did 
call  Flag  Days. 

3  Now  these  are  cer- 
tain of  the  Flag  Days 
that  were  set  aside  unto 
charity  In  the  land  of 
En  in  the  days  of  the 
Great  War. 

4  There      was      Our 
Day,  and  Star  and  Gar- 
ter  Day,    and    Roll    of 
Honour  Day,  and  Red 
Cross    Day,    and  'Blue 
Cross  Day. 

5  And      th*1™      was 


France's  Day,  and  Rus- 
sia's Day,  and  Serbia's 
Day,  and  Italy's  Day, 
and  Montenegro's  Day, 
and  Roumania  's  Day, 
and  Portugal's  Day. 

6  And     there     were 
other     Flag     Days     in 
great  number  so  that  I, 
even    I,    Artemas,    the 
scribe,     remember     not 
one  half. 

7  fl  And  on  a  day  that 
was    a    Flag    Day    the 
young   maidens    of   the 
cities    would    gather 
themselves  together  ere 
the    morning   was 
weaned,  and  they  would 
set  out. 

8  And  they  would  hie 
them  unto  the  populous 
places  of  the  cities  and 
they  would  place  them- 
selves in  ambush  behind 
the      corners     of     the 
streets;    yea,    each    one 
would  take  unto  herself 
a  certain  corner  as  her 
own,  and  she  would  lie 
low. 

9  And  when  any  man 


CH.  X.] 

approached  nigh  unto 
the  place  where  she  was 
hid,  then  would  she 
spring  out  on  a  sudden 
and  she  would  tackle 
him. 

10  ft  And    she    would 
pin  a  flag  unto  his  gar- 
ment,    even    unto    the 
lapel  of  7m  coat  would 
she   pin   her  flag;   and 
whatsoever    money    he 
did  have  for  to  buy  him 
bread,    that   would   she 
take  from  his  pouch  for 
to  pay  her,  wherefore  he 
needs  did  fast. 

11  And  there  was  no 
way  of  escape  open  unto 
him,  for  the  young  girls 
of  that  time  wrere  a  slim 
lot  and  they  knew  the 
manner  of  working  it. 

12  And  so  it  came  to 
pass     that,     when     the 
night    was    come,     the 
damsels   that   had   sold 
them  flags  were  bowed 
down   beneath    a    great 
weight    of    gold.      And 
the  men  that  had  paid, 
these  were  sent  empty 
away. 

13  And       they       re- 
turned unto  their  habi- 


THE  BOOK  OF  ABTEMAS 


53 


tations,  each  man  being 
wonderfully  adorned ; 
yea,  from  the  crowns  of 
their  heads  unto  the 
turn-up  of  their  nether 
garments  were  they  gay 
with  coloured  flags. 

14  fiNow  there  were 
certain  men  that,  seek- 
ing to  throw  dust  in  the 
eyes   of   the    sellers    of 
flags,    did    build    them 
dungeons       underneath 
the  ground,  saying,  with 
a  sly  look,  It  will  be  a 
safe  place  if,  perchance, 
a  Zeppelin  cometh  nigh. 

15  Nevertheless,  on  a 
night  when  the  Zeppe- 
lins   did    hover    above 
them,  then  were  they  on 
the  roofs  of  their  habi- 
tations with  glasses  that 
did  magnify; 

16  But   on   the    days 
that    were    Flag    Days, 
then    did    they    betake 
themselves        stealthily 
away  and  they  did  hide 
in  the  far  corner  of  the 
Zeppelin    dungeon   that 
was  deepest  down. 

17  fl  And    because 
much  good  flowed  from 
the  Flag  Days,  and  be- 


THE   BOOK  OF   ARTEMAS 


[CH.  X. 


cause  the  number  of 
mites  that  was  gathered 
in  was  very  great,  there- 
fore did  the  people 
stick  them,  each  man 
giving  according  to  his 
means. 

18  Yea,     even    those 
that     did    retire    unto 
their    Zeppelin    cellars 
did   give  to  an  extent, 
for  the  young  girls  fol- 
lowed     them      thither- 
wards, so  that  there  was 
no  means  of  escape  left 
unto  them;  verily,  they 
were  like  unto  a  spider 
that   is   caught   in    the 
meshes  of  its  own  web. 

19  ff  Wherefore         it 
came  to  pass  that  when 
another  nation  did  join 
with  the  people  of  En, 
and  did  fight  with  them 
against  the  men  of  Hu, 
there  were  some  in  the 
land    that    did    foresee 


things,  and  their  hearts 
misgave  them. 

20  And     when     one 
spake     chidingly     unto 
them,   saying,   Why   do 
ye  not  rejoice,  O  men  of 
little  satisfaction?     Be- 
hold,   there   is   yet   an- 
other that  fighteth  with 
us.      Then   would   they 
make  answer  and  would 
say,  Assuredly  is  there 
another    ally    come    to 
join  us.     And  there  is 
also  another  Flag  Day 
that     bringeth     greater 
persecution  at  the  cor- 
ners of  the  streets.  And 
they  were  full  of  fore- 
boding concerning  it. 

21  But  the  Flag  Days 
found    favour    amongst 
the  women  of  the  land, 
for  then  was  man  deliv- 
ered   into    their    hands 
and  they  needed  not  to 
spare  him. 


CH.  XI.] 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


55 


CHAPTER   XI. 

1  The  young  men  go  out  for 
to  fight.  2  Many  take  un- 
to themselves  wives.  11 
Some  think  it  not  wise. 
19  Some  transgress  the 
law.  22  The  matrons  are 
rejoiced.  23  All  the  maid- 
ens would  wed  amongst 
the  officers.  27  Concern- 
ing the  damsels  that  were 
left  over. 

MOW  in  the  land  of 
•^  En  the  young  men 
did  hurry  them  away 
unto  the  war,  and 
amongst  the  maidens 
there  were  many  sad  at 
heart. 

2  f  And     when     the 
time  drew  nigh  unto  a 
young  man  that  he  must 
gird  up  his  loins  and  go, 
then    would    he    speak 
unto  the  damsel  of  his 
choice. 

3  And  he  would  say 
unto  her,  Thou  knowest 
that  there  yet  remaineth 
unto  me  only  so  many 
days;    let   us   therefore 
arrange  matters  quickly 
that  we  ~be  married. 


4  And    because     the 
time   was   short   and   it 
was    her     chance,     she 
would  answer  and  would 
sey  unto  him,  Thou  art 
my    lord,    and   whatso- 
ever  thou   commandest, 
it  shall  be  done.    Let  us 
therefore    hasten    about 
it  lest,  peradventure,  we 
meet  with  an  hindrance 
upon  the  way. 

5  For  the  women  of 
that  time  were  a  crafty 
lot  and  they  did  beguile 
their     men     with     soft 
words;  and  the  wiles  of 
Bathsheba,      that      did 
wash    herself,    were    as 
nothing   in   comparison 
to  these,  for  they  were 
full  of  artfulness. 

6  And  when  she  had 
told    her    mother    and 
them    that    were    about 
the    place,    she    would 
take  the  young  man  un- 
to the  priest  for  to  make 
them  a  day;  and  after 
it    was    in    order,    then 
would  they  go  unto  the 
ringmaker       and       she 


56 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


[CH.  XI. 


would  try  on  whatso- 
ever came  unto  her 
hand.  Yea,  many  rings 
would  she  place  upon 
her  finger;  but  the  ring 
that  she  did  choose,  that 
did  she  not  try  on,  fear- 
ing lest  it  prove  un- 
lucky in  the  afterwards. 

7  Now  it  happened  in 
certain    cases    that    the 
damsel    needed    not    to 
furnish    her   with    gar- 
ments for  the  wedding, 
inasmuch    as    she    was 
prepared,    being    ready 
against  the  occasion. 

8  But    when    it   was 
not  so,  then  would  the 
damsel  set  about  it,  and 
she  would  make  things 
hum.       And     she    and 
those  that  were  related 
unto  her  and  her  hand- 
maidens      also,       they 
would  haste  them  unto 
the  bazaars.    And  what- 
soever    was     necessary 
unto  the  marriage,  that 
thing  would  they  buy; 
and  of  the  things  that 
were  not  necessary  unto 
the       marriage,       they 
would    also    buy    them 
some  of  these. 


9  And  when  the  last 
minute  was  -come,  then 
would  they  send  the  old 
man    for   to    buy    that 
which     was     forgotten, 
saying    unto    him,    Get 
thee  quickly,  thou  fool. 
And  he  would  get  him 
quickly. 

10  And     when     the 
hour  was  come  for  the 
young  man  to  take  the 
damsel    unto    him,    be- 
hold,    she     was    there. 
And  throughout  all  the 
land  of  En  there  was  no 
case  known  of  a  dam- 
sel  that   did   come  too 
late. 

11  fl  And   because 
there  was  a  great  num- 
ber   of   them   that    did 
wed  in  this  wise,  there- 
fore   was    there    much 
talk  concerning  it,  both 
in  the  public  places  and 
in  the  habitations  of  the 
people. 

12  And  some  did  say 
it  was  a  foolish  thing  to 
do.    And  they  did  speak 
darkly    concerning    the 
future,  what  it  did  hide, 
for  it  went  for  a  saying 
amongst    them    that    a 


CH.   XI.] 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


57 


marriage  that  is  hasty 
bringeth  early  regret. 

13  And    others    said, 
Let  the  young  men  wed. 
Verily,  many   go  forth 
unto  the  wars  but  the 
number  of  them  that  re- 
turn, it  is  not  so  great. 
Therefore  is  it  necessary 
for  them  that  are  of  an 
age  to  make  them  fam- 
ilies, else  in  what  man- 
ner shall  the  nation  en- 
dure. 

14  And     the     young 
things  heeded  not  these 
arguments,      for      they 
were    young    and    did 
love.      And    whosoever 
loveth  enough,  he  hath 
his  justification. 

15  But  woe  unto  that 
man    who   taketh    unto 
himself  a  wife  for  the 
sake    of    it;    &    million 
tears  will  not  suffice  for 
to  drown  her  in. 

16  But  he  that  mar- 
rieth     his     beloved     in 
haste,     seeking     happi- ' 
ness,  that  man  assured- 
ly hath  a  dog's  chance; 
and  he  that  taketh  time 
about   the    business,    is 
not  his  risk  also  great? 


17  And    there     were 
some  that  did  marry  for 
love     and    there     were 
some  that  did  marry  for 
a    pension;    but    there 
were     some     that     did 
marry  because  it  was  a 
discreet  thing  to  do. 

18  And    the    number 
of  them  that  did  marry 
was     beyond    anything 
that  men  could  remem- 
ber, so  that  the  priests 
did  gather  them  an  har- 
vest of  exceeding  rich- 
ness and  they  did  bless 
the   unions   with   many 
pious  words. 

19  fl  Now  certain  men 
did    take    unto    them- 
selves more  wives  than 
one,  which  was  a  wicked 
thing  to  do,  for  in  the 
land  of  En  it  was  not 
lawful    for    a    man    to 
marry  two  wives. 

20  And  this  was  pass- 
ing strange,  for  the  se- 
duction of  a  maiden  was 
a  thing  that  was  winked 
at.    Yea,  the  father  of  a 
child  begotten   guiltily, 
he  was  absolved  by  the 
payment  of  five  pieces 
of    silver    every    week. 


58 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


But  the  man  whose  wife 
did  bear  him  a  son,  his 
punishment  was  greater 
than  this. 

21  And  in  those  days 
was  man  judged  accord- 
ing to  a  rule,   and  an 
hurt    transgressing   not 
the  rule,  that  was  for- 
given  unto   him.     And 
to    marry    two     wives, 
that    was    against    the 
rule;   but  to   keep   two 
score      of      concubines, 
that  was  a  lawful  thing 
to  do. 

22  flAnd         because 
there    was    war,    there- 
fore did  many  mothers 
pull  off  forlorn  hopes  at 
the  last  minute,  which 
rejoiced    them    greatly. 
For    there    was    much 
competition  amongst  the 
daughters    of   En,    and 
the    number   of   young 
men  did  not  suffice  for 
all. 

23  fl  And  every  maid- 
en did  seek  for  to  get 
her  an  officer,  for  these 
were   great   men  whom 
the  common  soldiers  did 
salute     in     the     public 
places,  so  that  to  walk 


[CH.   XI. 

with  such  an   one   was 
indeed  pleasurable. 

24  And     there     was 
much  cackling  in  all  the 
hen-roosts  of  the  land  of 
En,  and  amongst  those 
families    that    did    get 
them    an    officer    there 
were     loud     manifesta- 
tions of  joy. 

25  And  the  pride  of 
these    was    beyond    all 
telling,  and  they  would 
hold  up  their  heads  on 
high    and    they    would 
say  unto  them  that  did 
live  next  door,  Bow  ye 
down    before    us     and 
make  obeisance.     Know 
ye  not  that  Miriam,  our 
first-born,  hath  taken  a 
captain  to  husband  ? 

26  And  because  they 
did  know  it  and  because 
their  daughter  had  suc- 
ceeded only  as  high  as  a 
corporal    of   the    lance, 
they  would  bow  them- 
selves down  and  would 
speak  words  of  flattery, 
for  she   that  was  wife 
unto   a   captain   was   a 
power  in  the  confines  of 
the  cities. 

27  ft  But   there    were 


CH.  XI.] 

many  maidens  that  no 
man  took  unto  him  for 
wife,  and  the  days  of 
these  were  bitter  living; 
neither  did  their  sisters 
that  had  clicked  refrain 
from  telling  them  about 
it. 

28  Wherefore  some  of 
the  damsels  that  were 
left  over  did  journey  in- 
to the  wilderness  for  to 
meditate  concerning  the 
matter,  for  the  airs  of  a 
woman  that  is  married 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


59 


are  as  a  goad  unto  her 
that  languisheth  alone. 

29  And  so  it  came  to 
pass  that  certain  of 
them  did  get  them  war 
work  from  the  makers  of 
munitions,  and  certain 
of  them  did  get  them 
war  babies  from  no  man 
knew  whither.  Yea, 
every  one  did  act  ac- 
cording to  her  lights  and 
did  do  all  those  things 
that  the  occasion  did 
demand. 


60 


THE  BOOK  OF  ABTEMAS 


[CH.  XII. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

1  Concerning  those  that 
went  not  forth  for  to  fight. 
14  The  rulers  commune 
together  on  the  matter.  17 
And  call  out  all  the  young 
men.  18  But  certain  are 
absolved.  25  Wherefore 
many  are  combed  out.  29 
And  the  people  are  satis- 
fied. 31  Each  man  pay- 
eth  for  his  own  strong 
drink. 

A  ND  when  the  fighters 
•**•  had  gone  forth  un- 
to the  war,  there  yet  re- 
mained certain  men  that 
were  strong  and  sound 
of  limb.  And  every  man 
that  went  not  forth,  lie 
had  his  reason. 

2  And  some  said,  To 
kill  men  in  battle  is  a 
wicked  thing.  Would  ye 
therefore  have  us  to  go 
against  our  consciences  ? 

3  And  when  the  peo- 
ple    questioned     these, 
they  replied  unto  them, 
saying,    The   wise   man 
giveth    obedience    unto 
his  conscience  lest  it  tor- 
ment   him;     neither  is 


there  any  escape  from 
it.  And  we  are  men  of 
wisdom. 

4  And  if  one  of  the 
men  of  Hu  shall  ravish 
our     eldest     daughter, 
then  shall  we  offer  unto 
him  she  that  is  next  un- 
to her  that  he  may  rav- 
ish her  also;  for  so  it  is 
written. 

5  And  they  that  ques- 
tioned them  forbore  to 
ask  them  more,  deeming 
a    conscience    such    as 
this  was  assuredly  come 
from  the  devil. 

6  And     there     were 
some    that,     being    af- 
frighted, hid  themselves 
away.   And  the  number 
of  these  was  small  and, 
when    the    time    came, 
they  were  combed  out. 

7  And     there     were 
others  that  were  grown 
selfish,  because  they  did 
gain   much   recompense 
by    their    labours,    and 
these  were  loth  to  leave 
their  habitations.     And 
they  did  say, 


CH.  XII.] 

8  Wherefore     should 
we  go  forth  for  to  fight  ? 
In  our  houses  there  are 
many  fires  and  the  wo- 
men  do   put  them   hot 
bricks  into  our  beds  so 
that  our  feet  suffer  not 
when  the  night  groweth 
cold. 

9  And  if  we  go  out 
for  to  fight,  verily,  the 
rain  from   heaven  will 
fall  upon  us  and  it  will 
make   us   wet.     And  a 
skin  that  is  wet  affect- 
eth  the  nose. 

10  And  the  food  that 
we  shall  eat,  it  will  lie 
heavy    upon  our   stom- 
achs;   neither   will    the 
women  sustain  us  with 
hot  bricks. 

11  And  because  of  all 
these  things,  they  went 
not  forth  unto  the  war 
until    the     time     came 
when  they  were  combed 
out. 

12  And    there    were 
many    men    throughout 
the  land  that  were  will- 
ing to  go  at  the  time  ap- 
pointed, each  man  in  his 
turn. 

13  And  these  did  say, 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


61 


Wherefore  should  we 
depart  from  our  habita- 
tions and  wherefore 
leave  our  wives  amongst 
strange  people  ?  Send 
first  the  young  men  that 
are  hanging  back;  and, 
afterwards,  when  our 
time  cometh,  we  shall  be 
ready.  And  ye  shall  find 
us  in  the  forefront  of 
the  battle. 

14  f  And  because  that 
which  they  had  said  was 
just,  therefore  the  rul- 
ers  of   the   land   could 
not  gainsay  them.   And 
they  communed  together 
in  the  council  chamber 
concerning  it. 

15  And  some,  know- 
ing not  the  spirit  of  the 
people,  did  say,  Let  us 
now    do    nothing    rash 
lest,  if  we  call  up  all  the 
young  men,  they  raise 
an    outcry    throughout 
the  land. 

16  But     there     were 
others   that   said,   It  is 
sufficient  that  we  havo 
need  of  men  for  to  send 
against  the  enemy.    Let 
us  therefore  see  about  it. 

17  flAnd  they   over- 


62 


THE  BOOK  OF  ABTEMAS 


[CH.  XII. 


ruled  those  that  were 
against  them,  and  did 
make  them  a  law  where- 
by all  the  young  men 
were  called  out  for  to 
fight. 

18  flBut     they      ab- 
solved them   that  were 
in  the  workshops  mak- 
ing   the    munitions    of 
war,  and  acquitted  them 
also  that  were  plagued 
with  a  conscience. 

19  And    because    the 
men  of  Ire  said,  We  will 
not    have    it,    therefore 
the  rulers  dared  not  to 
say  them  nay,   for  the 
men  of  Ire  were  rulers 
in  the  land  of  En. 

20  And  they  appoint- 
ed   them    tribunals,    a 
mixed  lot  of  men,  so  that 
those   that   were   called 
out  might  show  them  a 
reason  against  it. 

21  And    because    the 
net  that  was  spread  in 
the  sight  of  the  young 
men    was   wide    in   the 
mesh,  therefore  was  the 
haul     thereof     fraught 
with       disappointment. 
And  the  young  men  did 
work  themselves  free  in 


ways  that  were  various. 

22  And     some     hied 
them    unto    the    work- 
shops to  become  makers 
of    munitions    of    war, 
saying,  the  one  unto  the 
other,  By  this  means,  as- 
suredly,   shall   we   save 
our  skins.     And  for  a 
long  time  it  was  so. 

23  And  others  did  cry 
their    woes    before    the 
tribunals.  And  the  tales 
that  they  did  tell  were 
pitiful  indeed,  and  they 
did  move  the  tribunals 
unto  compassion  so  that 
they  absolved  them. 

24  And  the  rulers,  that 
did  ought  to  set  an 
example,  made  lusty 
youths  for  to  be  their 
scribes,  and  they  did 
put  them  for  to  do  wo- 
men's work.  And  the 
number  of  them  that 
were  absolved  in  this 
wise  became  a  crying 
shame  that  was  heard 
throughout  all  the  land. 
25  fl  And  when  the 
rulers  were  questioned 
hotly  concerning  these 
men  and  concerning 
those  that  had  hidden 


CH.   XII.] 


THE  BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


63 


themselves  behind  the 
rampart  that  was  muni- 
tions, they  bestirred 
themselves  somewhat 
and  did  comb  them  out. 

26  And    the    number 
that  they  did  comb  out 
was  very  great.    And  be- 
cause they  had  not  done 
this    thing    before,    but 
had    waited    until    the 
people    raised    them    a 
clamour,  therefore  were 
the    rulers    blamed    ex- 
ceedingly. 

27  Nevertheless,  those 
that  rebelled  against  it 
because   they   did   have 
consciences,    these  were 
not  sent  out  for  to  fight. 

28  But  some  of  them 
were  set  to  work  upon 
matters  of  health,  which 
was    a    loathsome    duty 
and  abhorred  by  them 
who,    being    without    a 
conscience,     went     out 
against  the  enemy. 

29  ft  And     when     all 
the   men   that  ivere   of 
full    vigour    had    been 
taken,  there  was  an  end 
to  the  murmuring  of  the 
people. 

30  And   all   were   of 


one  mind  that  this 
thing  should  have  been 
done  before,  for  they 
saw  that  the  taking  was 
just,  no  man  suffering 
beyond  his  neighbour, 
and  every  man  fighting 
for  his  own. 

31  fl  Now  it  was  made 
a    law    that    whosoever 
should  enter  into  a  tav- 
ern   for    to    buy    him 
strong  drink,  that  man 
must  pay  for  his  own. 

32  And    there    were 
some,   being  them  that 
drank      beyond      their 
means,  that  had  a  griev- 
ance because  of  it,  for  to 
pay  for  their  own,  they 
had  forgotten  the  way. 

33  Wherefore  they  did 
suffer   exceedingly   and 
were  for  ever  dry;  and 
their    look,    it    was    a 
thirsty  one. 

34  And  when  the  dam- 
sels heard  about  it,  they 
set  them  out  for  to  find 
a  meoMs  to  circumvent 
it,  for  the  thing  was  not 
agreeable  unto  them. 

35  And  when  a  maid- 
en  approached   unto   a 
tavern,    being    with    a- 


64 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


man  that  had  a  leaning 
towards  her,  then  would 
she  stop  outside,  and 
she  would  say  unto  him, 
Give  thou  unto  me  five 
pieces  of  silver  that  I 
may  pay  for  mine  own. 
And  whatsoever  remain- 
eth  over,  that  will  I  give 
thee  back  after  we  are 
come  out. 

36  And    they    would 
enter  into  a  tavern.  And 
she  would  call  the  serv- 
ing man  unto  her  and 
she    would   speak   unto 
him  in  a  soft  voice,  say- 
ing,  Bring   unto   me  a 
small    portion    of    that 
wine  which  cometh  from 
Oporto  that  I  may  nour- 
ish my  bones. 

37  And    the    serving 
man  would  bring  it  unto 
her,  and  he  would  set  it 
down  before  her.     And 
the   damsel  would  pay 
for   it   out   of   the   five 
pieces  of  silver  that  she 
had  received  from  her 


[CH.   XII. 

man.  And  whatsoever 
was  left  over,  that  would 
she  place  in  her  purse. 

38  And  afterwards,  she 
would  smile  upon  the 
man  that  was  with  her, 
and  she  would  say  unto 
him,  Thy  beard  becom- 
eth  thee  well.  Thou  art 
strong  and  thy  wisdom 
is  great  and  thine  eyes 
absorb  me  utterly.  Veri- 
ly doth  thine  handmaid- 
en feel  small  in  the  sight 
of  her  lord. 

39  All  this  would  she 
say  unto  him,  and  more 
also ;     but     concerning 
that  which  was  remain- 
ing over  from  the  five 
pieces     of     silver     she 
would  say  no  word. 

40  And    this   is   ever 
the  way  of  women  that 
by  their  artfulness  they 
do  wangle  it,  and  what- 
soever cometh   up   con- 
trary, that  do  they  work 
for  to  be  an  advantage 
unto  them. 


CH.  XIII.] 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


65 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

1  Concerning  David.  7  His 
unpopularity  amongst  cer- 
tain of  the  people.  9  The 
rulers  disagree.  11  David 
speakeih  out.  14  He  find- 
eth  favour  with  his  ene- 
mies. 17  The  things  that 
he  did  do.  24  He  reach- 
eth  unto  high  office.  27 
The  Pharisees  fall  away 
from  him.  29  His  great- 
ness. 

"VT  OW  there  was  a  cer- 
•^  tain  man  and  his 
name  was  David,  and 
his  place  was  amongst 
the  rulers  of  the  land  of 
En. 

2  Though    small     of 
stature,  yet  was  he  of  a 
fiery  spirit,  and  the  hair 
upon   his    face   was    as 
the  bristles  of  a  badger 
that  is  roused. 

3  And  his  tongue  was 
for  ever  loose  and  did 
wag    itself   continually, 
being  like  unto  the  tail 
of    a    small    dog    that 
scenteth   its   food  from 
afar. 


4  Now  David  was  one 
of  them  that  did  come 
from  the  land  of  Cam, 
but  the  language  of  his 
kindred    did    he    speak 
only  upon  occasion ; 

5  And  at  other  times 
he  did  speak  as  the  men 
of  En,  save  only  when 
he     delivered     him     a 
warning  unto  them  that 
would  butt  in;  and  in 
such  case  his  words  were 
those    of    the    land    of 
Amer. 

6  Now    at    the    time 
when  Willi  did  lead  out 
his   hosts   for  to   fight, 
David  was  the  chief  tax 
gatherer  in  the  land  of 
En. 

7  fl  And  his  name  was 
an  abomination  through- 
out the  land.  Men  cursed 
him     in     the     market 
places,  in  the  sight  of 
the  publicans  he  was  a 
thing  unclean,   and  his 
name  stank  vilely  in  the 
nostrils  of  the  priests. 

8  Verily,  to  love  En 
and  David  both,  was  not 


66 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


thought  possible  by 
many.  Only  amongst  the 
Pharisees  was  it  not  so, 
and  these  men  of  little 
mind  did  glorify  him 
with  a  great  praise. 

9  fi  Now    it    came    to 
pass  when  the  rulers  of 
the    land    of    En    took 
counsel,  the  one  with  the 
other,  concerning  wheth- 
er   they    should    make 
them  a  war,  there  were 
some  that  did  say,  Let 
us  make  a  war,  for  an 
honourable    pledge    de- 
mandeth         fulfilment ; 
nought  can  absolve  a  na- 
tion  from   its  plighted 
word,  and  we  are  what 
we  are. 

10  And    there    were 
others    that    were    the 
Pharisees,  and  they  did 
say,  Why  hasten  ye  to- 
wards the  shedding  of 
men's  blood?     Better  a 
peace  that  obeyeth   di- 
vine precept  than  a  war 
that  upholdeth  the  word 
of  a  nation. 

11  fi  And  when  David 
heard    the    things    that 
the   Pharisees   did   say, 
behold,   he   arose   from 


[CH.  XIII. 

his  seat  in  the  council 
chamber  and  spake  un- 
to all  them  that  were 
there. 

12  And  he  lashed  the 
Pharisees     with     his 
tongue,     sparing    them 
not.      And    because    he 
was  of  them,  therefore 
were  the  words  that  he 
did  say  unto  them  pass- 
ing apt,  so  that  they  did 
wriggle    in    their    seats 
as  worms  that  are  upon 
an  hot  plate. 

13  And     them     that 
would  preserve  the  na- 
tion's honour  at  a  cost 
of  blood,  these  did  he 
sustain    with    the 
strength   of  his   doings 
and  the  whole  might  of 
his  oratory. 

14  flAnd    when    the 
publicans      and     the 
priests   and   those   that 
had  cursed  him  in  the 

'  market  places  were  told 
what  he  had  done,  they 
were  amazed  that  such  a 
thing  could  come  to 
pass. 

15  And  they  said  un- 
to   each    other,     What 
manner  of  man  is  this 


CH.  XIII.] 


THE  BOOK  OP  ABTEMAS 


67 


that  hath  for  so  long 
been  against  us,  yet  now 
speaketh  our  very 
minds  ? 

16  And    they    raised 
him  up  and  made  him 
to  "be  ruler  over  them, 
and  he   did   find   more 
favour    amongst    those 
people     than     he     had 
found       amongst       the 
Pharisees    in    the    time 
that  was  gone. 

17  flAnd  it  came  to 
pass     that     whatsoever 
there   ivas  to   be   done, 
that    thing    did    David 
do ;  verily,  his  capacities 
were    as    manifold     as 
the  lies  of  a  woman  ac- 
cused. 

18  And     they     made 
him  chief  over  the  mu- 
nitioners,   and    he    did 
make    him    engines    of 
war  and  instruments  of 
siege,  and  other  imple- 
ments of  battle  also,  the 
quantity     whereof     ex- 
ceeded calculation. 

19  And      nobody 
throughout  all  the  land 
excelled  him  in  energy 
and  in  ingenuity  of  the 
mind.    And  he  did  even 


make  the  workers  to 
work;  and  this  was  a 
thing  that  was  never 
before  known  in  the 
land  of  En. 

20  And  when  the  men 
of    Ire,     because    they 
were      never      content, 
waxed    angry,    the    one 
with     the     other,     and 
there  was  like  to  be  re- 
bellion   amongst    them, 
and  there  was  need  of  a 
mediator   for  to  judge 
between  them, 

21  Then  the  choice  of 
the    people    fell    upon 
David,    and    they    did 
send  him  unto  the  land 
of  Ire  for  to  speak  the 
soft  word  that  charmeth 
away  wrath. 

22  And  David  went. 
And  after  he  had  fin- 
ished speaking  unto  the 
men  of  Ire,  he  returned 
him      unto      his      seat 
amongst  the  rulers. 

23  And     because    Tie 
was  the  first  man  that 
did  go  for  to  pacify  the 
men  of  Ire,  yet  stirred 
not   up    further   strife, 
therefore  was  his  name 
honoured     above     any, 


68 


THE  BOOK  OP  ABTEMAS 


and  poets  did  sing  his 
praises  on  the  feast  days 
of  the  Eisteddfod. 

24  flAnd    the    rulers 
did  choose  him  to  suc- 
ceed unto  a  great  sol- 
dier, and  they  did  place 
him  over  the   hosts   of 
En,   making  of  him   a 
mighty    captain.      And 
because       the       people 
would  have  none  other, 
therefore  was  he  chosen. 

25  And  the  work  that 
was  already  begun,  that 
did  he  continue.     And 
he  did  make  the  hosts  of 
En  great  heyond  all  con- 
ception,    and    the 
strength  of  En  was  as 
the   foundations  of  the 
earth. 

26  And  his  popular- 
ity with  the  people  did 
grow  day  by  day,  where- 
fore men  said,  in  jest, 
Behold,     here     cometh 
David,    George    that   is 
the    Sixth.      And    they 
that  had  hated  him  be- 
fore did  worship  him  as 
a  god. 

27  But   the   Phari- 


[CH.   XIII. 

sees  knew  not  what  to 
do,  for  he  was  become  as 
a  revelation  unto  them. 
Therefore  did  they  say 
very  little  concerning 
him;  and  when  it  hap- 
pened that  they  had  oc- 
casion to  utter  his  name, 
then  would  they  do  so 
with  a  sniff  upon  the 
word. 

28  For    such    is    the 
way    of   the    Pharisees. 
And     these     do     place 
peace  above  the  honour 
of  a  nation  and  an  unc- 
tuous word   before   the 
doing  of  a  thing  that  is 
right.      And    in    them 
there  is  no  stomach  for 
the  fray. 

29  1J  But  David  cared 
not  at  all  for  such  as 
these,  and  there  was  no 
man  greater  in  all  the 
land.      And    when    the 
time   came,   he    did   sit 
upon    the    highest    seat 
amongst    the    rulers    of 
the  land,  because  he  was 
the  chosen  of  the  people, 
and    they    would    have 
none  other. 


CH.  XIV.] 


69 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

1  The  implements  of  war.  8 
The  engines  that  did  fly. 
14  Concerning  the  Mad 
Major.  25  The  men  of  En 
employ  tanks.  34  Where- 
fore the  men  of  Hu  cry 
out. 

OW  these  le  the  im- 
plements  of  war, 
and  all  these  things  did 
men  use  at  that  time 
when  the  nations  of  the 
earth  banded  themselves 
together  for  the  fight. 

2  Now     there     were 
guns  of  great  magnitude 
that  did  hit  hard  so  that 
there  was  nothing  that 
could    withstand    them, 
and,  against  them,  the 
fortifications  of  the  cit- 
ies were  as  snow  when 
the  sun  cometh  out. 

3  And  the  guns   did 
scatter     death     on     all 
sides,  above  and  about, 
so  that  there  was  no  liv- 
ing thing  left  nigh  unto 
the  place  where  they  did 
strike;  and  the  compass 
of  a  gun,  it  was  beyond 


the  sight  of  human  eye. 

4  And     there     were 
mines  that  the  engineers 
did  make  them  under- 
neath the  ground;  and 
all  that  which  was  above 
the    ground,    that    did 
they    scatter    unto    the 
heavens  so  that  when  it 
returned  again  to  earth, 
behold,  it  was  not. 

5  Also  was  there  gas, 
and  it  was  made  of  a 
vile  poison;   and  when 
any    man    did    deeply 
breathe  of  it,  that  man 
would    most    assuredly 
die;  and  the  manner  of 
his    death,    it   was  ter- 
rible. 

6  And  they  that  first 
made  use  of  the  gas  that 
was  poison  were  the  men 
of   Hu,    for   it   was   in 
them  to  do  so  because 
their  minds   did  travel 
unto  such  things. 

7  And      there      was 
liquid  that  icas  fire,  and 
it  was  sent  against  an 
host  for  to  burn  up  the 
flesh  of  them  that  came 


70 


THE  BOOK  OF  ABTEMAS 


[CH.  XIV. 


in  the  way.  And  this 
was  also  from  the  men 
of  Hu  and  was  bred  of 
their  refinement.  And 
neither  of  these  things 
did  the  nations  of  Eur 
use  in  any  war  that  they 
did  wage  before. 

8  flAnd    there    were 
engines    that     did     fly 
through   the    air,    fear- 
some   weapons    of   war 
that  did  deal  out  death 
and  destruction  from  an 
ambush  of  clouds. 

9  And  they  were  of 
two    kinds.      And    the 
Zeps    were    fat-bellied, 
being  of  the  men  of  Hu. 

10  These  did  carry  on 
their  goings  out  a  great 
weight   of   matter   that 
was  death.     And   they 
did  drop  it  at  a  venture 
so  that  it  fell  amongst 
peaceful  dwellers  in  the 
land;    and    the    women 
and    children   that   did 
perish  by  this  means,  it 
was  a  great  number. 

11  And    there    were 
also  engines  that  did  fly 
which    men    called 
planes:  and  these  were 
of  both  sides.  And  they 


were  speedy  things  and 
nimble. 

12  And  those  that  did 
ride  in  them  were  brave 
men  and  skilful.     And 
the    men   of   Hu   pros- 
pered    not     with     the 
planes  save  only  in  the 
flight,    at    which    they 
were  exceeding  quick. 

13  And  so  there  came 
a  time  when  the  men  of 
Hu  forbore  to  go  up  in- 
to the  air  for  to  fight  be- 
cause the  hazard  of  such 
an    enterprise,    it    was 
very  great. 

14  fl  Now  the  bravery 
of  the  warriors  of  En 
that    did    ride    in    the 
planes      was      in      the 
mouths  of  all  the  peo- 
ples of  the  earth.    And 
there    was    one    whom 
men  did  call  the   Mad 
Major    because    of    his 
daring. 

15  And   it   was   said 
concerning  him  that  he 
and  death  played  them 
a  long  game  wherein  the 
dice  were  loaded  on  the 
side  of  death. 

16  And  he  would  ven- 
ture forth  and  would  fly 


CH.   XIV.] 


THE  BOOK  OF  AKTEMAS 


71 


from  the  camp  of  the 
men  of  En  until  he 
came  unto  a  place 
whence  he  could  see  the 
hosts  of  Hu  spread  out 
beneath  him. 

17  Then     would     he 
choose     him     a     target 
from  amongst  the  strong 
places  that  were  below, 
and  he  would  swoop  him 
down   on   a  sudden  so 
that  he  was  but  a  few 
cubits  on  high. 

18  And   the   men   of 
Hu  would  use  all  man- 
ner of  weapons  against 
him,    and    they    would 
send  projectiles  that  did 
scatter     about    for     to 
bring    him     down 
amongst  them. 

19  Yea,      from      the 
places    that   were    nigh 
unto  him  and  from  the 
places  that  were  afar  off 
would  they  send  of  their 
munition,   seeking   only 
that    they    might    slay 
him.     And  the  heavens 
were  filled  with  a  mul- 
titude of  balls  so  that 
men  said,  Verily,  in  the 
place   where   he    is,    in 
that  place  only  is  it  pos- 


sible  for  man  to  live. 

20  And  when  he  that 
was  called  the  Mad  Ma- 
jor   was    low    enough, 
then  would  he  drop  him 
a  bomb.    And  it  came  to 
pass  that  all  that  which 
was  underneath,  it  was 
destroyed,  and  the  men 
that  were  there  did  as- 
suredly perish. 

21  Then     would     he 
ascend  into  the  air  unto 
a  certain  height,  for  that 
which  he  had  come  for 
to  do,  it  was  done. 

22  And  he  would  loop 
him  a  loop;  yea,  even 
over   the   hosts   of   Hu 
would    he    loop    him    a 
loop,  for  he  was  of  a 
merry  spirit  and  it  was 
in  him  to  laugh  in  this 
manner. 

23  And  when  he  had 
looped   him   a   loop   he 
would  return  unto  the 
men    of    En,    and    he 
would   say   unto   them, 
The    bombs    that    thou 
gavest  unto  me  went  off. 
Give      me,      therefore, 
some  more  that  I  may 
dispose  of  them  in  like- 
wise. 


72 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


24  And   he   was   not 
alone  in  the  things  that 
he    did    do,    for    there 
were    many    like    unto 
him.      And    concerning 
the  deeds  of  some  thou 
shalt  find  it  writ  in  the 
books ;    but    concerning 
many,  thou  shalt  find  no 
record  of  their  deeds  in 
the    chronicles   of   that 
time. 

25  flAnd  the  men  of 
En  did  make  them  cha- 
riots   of    strange    and 
wonderful    design,    and 
they  did  call  them  tanks. 
And  there  was  no  man 
throughout  all  the  land 
that  did  say,  I  made  not 
this  chariot;  but  every 
man  did  draw  his  neigh- 
bour unto  the  side,  and 
did  speak  unto  him  priv- 
ily, saying,  Shush!    Let 
it  not  be  known.    I  tell 
thee  that  I,  even  I,  did 
take   an   hand   in   this 
thing. 

26  And  the  shape  of 
the  tanks  was  for  a  long 
time  known  only  to  the 
few.      And    some    said 
they  were   like  unto  a 
lizard  that  is  blown  out 


[CH.  XIV. 

mightily,  that  walketh 
as  a  man  plagued  with 
the  corns. 

27  And    others    said 
they  were  like  unto  an 
hippopotamus  that  doth 
wobble  itself  amazingly 
so  that  no  man  knoweth 
whither     it     intendeth ; 
yet,  of  a  certainty,  doth 
it  get  there. 

28  And    others    said 
they     were     like     unto 
nothing  on  earth,  being 
for  the  most  part  belly 
of  a  fashion  that  is  giv- 
en unto  no  living  thing. 

29  And    that    which 
was  a  shield  and  a  cov- 
ering unto  the  tanks  was 
tough    past    all    belief; 
yea,  even  the  hide  of  the 
rhinoceros  did  not  com- 
pare unto  this.    And  all 
the  missiles  that  the  men 
of  Hu  did  send  against 
it  were  as  peas  upon  a 
roof  that  is  whole,  and  it 
availed  them  nothing. 

30  And  in  its  gait  it 
was  like  unto  a  man  that 
hath  taken  strong  drink, 
having    first    devoured 
much  rice.    For  in  such 
case  does  the  belly  grow 


CH.   XIV.] 

big  and  the  footsteps  do 
become  unsteady. 
"Wherefore  it  was  a 
thing  for  laughter 
amongst  the  men  of  En ; 
but  in  the  hosts  of 
Hu  it  was  a  thing  for 
fear. 

31  And      men      told 
strange     tales     of     the 
tilings   that   it   did   do. 
And    it   was   said   that 
upon  an  occasion  it  did 
sally  forth  and,   in  its 
adventuring,  it  did  meet 
with  an  habitation. 

32  And  it  did  go  up 
unto  the  habitation  and 
it  did  look  upon  it.  And 
it    did    go    against   the 
habitation  with  a,  pur- 
pose so  that  the  walls 
did    fall   about   it   and 
there  was  ruination  on 
all  sides. 

33  And  after  it  had 
shaken  itself  free  from 
all  that  which  had  fallen 
upon  it,  it  did  betake  it- 
self with  modesty  unto 
another  place  as  a  man 
that    is   overcome    with 
shyness  and  seeketh  to 


THE  BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


73 


pass  it  over.  Verily,  it 
recked  nothing  of  the 
thing  that  it  had  done. 

34  fl  Wherefore,    and 
because     it     did     sinite 
them    hip     and    thigh, 
sparing    not    any    man 
that      did      come      up 
against  it,  the  men  of 
Hu    were    afraid,    and 
they  did  cry  out  with 
loud  lamentations,  say- 
ing, "Why  do  ye  so  de- 
spitef ully  use  us  ?  Know 
ye  not  that  it  is  not  in 
the    war    to    do    these 
things  ? 

35  And  because  men 
knew  them,  they  heeded 
not  their  groans,  so  that 
it  availed  them  nothing ; 
and  the  tank  remained  a 
thing  of  terror  through- 
out all  their  hosts. 

36  And  in  this  thing 
the  men  of  En  were  first 
amongst  all  the  fighters 
of  Eur,  for  it  was  new. 
And  the  people  rejoiced, 
being    satisfied    that    it 
was  given  unto  them  as 
a   sign  that  the   rulers 
were  becoming  awake. 


74 


THE  BOOK  OF  ABTEMAS 


[CH.  XV. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

1  Concerning  the  land  of 
Amer.  4  And  the  ruler 
thereof.  11  Certain  men 
of  Amer  are  slain.  12 
Wudro,  the  son  of  Wyl, 
writeth  an  epistle.  26  He 
writeth  again.  27  He 
writeth  many  times.  28 
Certain  men  do  question 
him.  38  He  revealeth  him- 
self. 

VTOW  the  land  of 
*•*  Amer  was  at  the 
other  side  of  the  sea 
that  is  Atlantic,  and  it 
was  many  days'  sail  in 
a  ship  from  the  island 
of  En. 

2  And  the  bounds  of 
that  land  were  set  far 
apart,    and    the    people 
that  did  live  there  were 
more  numerous  than  the 
waves  of  all  the  seas. 

3  And  it  was  a  fertile 
land  of  extreme   fruit- 
fulness,   and   the   earth 
underneath    it    yielded 
precious  metals  in  abun- 
dance.   And  the  people 
were  for  ever  extolling 
its    greatness    amongst 


the  nations  of  the  earth. 

4  fiNow  the  ruler  of 
the  land  of  Amer  was  a 
certain    man    and    his 
name   was   Wudro,   the 
son  of  Wyl ;  and  it  hap* 
pened  in  this  wise. 

5  Whilst  Wudro,  the 
son  of  Wyl,  was  tending 
his  flock  of  young  men 
in  the   pasture   that  is 
knowledge,  and  after  he 
had    taught    them    how 
they  should  go  and  what 
things       they       should 
know, 

6  Behold,  the  men  of 
Amer   came   unto   him, 
saying,  We  have  chosen 
thee  for  to  rule  over  us ; 
and    we    have    broiight 
thee  an  high  hat  for  to 
wear   as   the   badge   of 
thine  office ;  and  the  size 
of  the  hat,  it  is  six  sev- 
en-eighths. 

7  And     because     he 
knew  not  what  he  was 
letting  himself  in  for,  he 
gave  way  to  their  impor- 
tuning, and  did  put  on 
the  high  hat,  the  size 


CH.   XV.] 


THE   BOOK   OF   ARTEMAS 


75 


whereof  was  six  seven- 
eighths. 

8  And  it  came  to  pass 
that  when  the  men  of 
En  fought   against  the 
men   of   Hu,    they   did 
send    messengers    unto 
the  land  of  Amer  for  to 
buy  them  munitions  for 
the  war.    And  they  took 
with  them  gold  in  great 
quantity    wherewith    to 
satisfy    the    merchants 
that  did  sell  unto  them. 
Therefore  did  the  land 
of  Amer  prosper  exceed- 
ingly. 

9  Now  when  the  men 
of  Hu  found  out  that 
there  was  peril  in  the 
enterprise,  they  forbore 
to   send   out   vessels   of 
war  for  to  fight ;  in  place 
thereof,   they   did  send 
them  out  for  to  murder 
those  that  ivere  peaceful 
and    did   sail   the    seas 
without     any     weapon 
wh  erewith     to     defend 
themselves. 

10  And  coming  upon 
a  large  ship  unawares, 
they  did  send  it  unto  the 
bottom  of  the  sea  so  that 
all  they  that  did  travel 


upon  it  were  cast  into 
the  waters  for  to  drown. 
Yea,  even  the  women 
and  children  that  were 
aboard  the  vessel,  all 
these  perished  miser- 
ably, and  the  men  of 
Hu  did  watch  their 
struggles  with  death  un- 
heeding. 

11  fi  Now  amongst 
those  that  the  men  of 
Hu  did  slay  there  were 
certain  men  of  the  land 
of  Amer. 

12  flAnd  when  word 
was  brought  unto  Wu- 
dro,    the    son   of    Wyl, 
concerning  it,  and  how 
the    men    of    Hu    had 
slain    his    servants,    he 
waxed  very  wroth.  And 
he  betook  himself  unto 
a    quiet    place,    fearing 
lest  in  the  height  of  his 
indignation  he  should  do 
violence  unto  any  man. 

13  And    although   he 
was  enraged  beyond  en- 
durance, nevertheless  he 
was  a  patient  man  with- 
al. 

14  Therefore   he   did 
sit  him  down  and  he  did 
write    an    epistle    unto 


76 


THE  BOOK  OP  ARTEMAS 


Willi,  being  him  that 
ruled  over  ike  men  of 
Hu. 

15  And  he  said  unto 
him,  Knowest  thou  not 
that  thy  servants  have 
slain  certain  of  the  men 
of   Amer   because   they 
did  sail  upon  the  sea? 

16  And      Willi      an- 
swered     him,      saying, 
Verily,  all  that  thou  say- 
est  is  true.  Let  us  there- 
fore  put   on    sackcloth 
and  ashes,  and  rend  our 
garments,  for  it  is  a  day 
of  mourning  unto  thee, 
and  I,  also,  am  full  of 
sorrow  because  of  it. 

17  And  when  Wudro, 
the  son  of  Wyl,  heard 
all  that  Willi  had  said, 
and  how  he   made  an- 
swer unto  him  in  soft 
words,     he     knew    not 
what  to  do,  for  he  was 
a  peaceable  man  and  the 
land  of  Amer  was  pros- 
pering greatly. 

18  So     he     sat     him 
down  and  did  write  un- 
to Willi   again,   saying 
unto  him,  Thy  tears  are 
as  an  healing  ointment. 
But  the  thing  that  thou 


[CH.   XV. 

hast  done,  that  shalt 
thou  do  not  again,  for 
there  is  a  penalty  unto 
it.  Take  heed,  there- 
fore, and  obey,  for  I  am 
a  terrible  man,  and 
fierce. 

19  And      Willi      an- 
swered him  and  did  say, 
Thou  hast  said  so  and 
so,   for  I  have  seen  it 
with    mine    own    eyes. 
Let  us  now  speak  con- 
cerning other  matters. 

20  And  he  called  unto 
him  a  messenger  and  did 
command  him  to  deliver 
the     epistle     unto     the 
ruler    of    the    land    of 
Amer. 

21  And  after  he  was 
gone,    he    set    to    work 
secretly   and   did  make 
him  preparation,  for  it 
was   his   intendment   to 
do  again  that  thing  re- 
garding which   Wudro, 
the    son    of    Wyl,    had 
forewarned  him. 

22  And  when  the  op- 
portunity came,  he  did 
sink  more  ships,  and  he 
did  leave  those  that  were 
on  them  to  perish.    And 
because    they   were    all 


CH.   XV.] 


THE  BOOK  OP  ABTEMAS 


77 


vessels  of  peace,  and 
without  armour,  there- 
fore was  he  strong 
against  them. 

23  And  a  messenger 
came  unto  Wudro,  the 
son  of  "Wyl,  in  hot  haste, 
and  he  told  him  of  the 
things    that   Willi    had 
done  and  how  that  he 
had  slain  yet  more  of 
the  men  of  Amer. 

24  And    because    he 
was   much    agitated    at 
the    tidings    that    were 
brought  unto  him,  there- 
fore did  "Wudro,  the  son 
of  Wyl,  swear  an  oath, 
making  divers  new 
words  for  the  occasion. 

25  And  he  said  unto 
the  courier,  The  matter 
concerning  which   thou 
hast  spoken  unto  me  is 
fraught  with  evil  conse- 
quences, for  I  will  write 
unto  Willi  another  epis- 
tle,    and     I     will     use 
mighty    words,    and    I 
will  affright  him.    Also, 
there  shall  be  an  after- 
wards. 

26  ffSo   he    sat   him 
down  and  did  write  un- 
to "Willi  another  epistle ; 


and  the  words  of  it  were 
so  terrifying  that  the 
hand  of  his  scribe  did 
tremble  even  in  the  put- 
ting of  it  down. 

27  ft  And  for  a  long 
time  it  came  to  pass  that 
whenever  Willi  did  slay 
any  of  the  men  of  Amer, 
then  did  Wudro,  the  son 
of  Wyl,  send  an  epistle 
unto  him,  abounding  in 
fearsome  words  and  writ 
upon  one  side  of  the  pa- 
per only. 

28  flAnd    certain 
men,  being  of  a  curious 
mind,    questioned    him, 
saying,  It  is  true  that 
the    epistles    that    thou 
writest   are    things   for 
terror,  and  that  the  man 
who    reads    them,    his 
blood  becometh  frozen  so 
that  it  circulateth  not. 

29  And    it    is    true, 
also,     that    the    things 
which   thou  threatenest 
are      dire.       But     the 
things  that  thou  doest, 
what  are  they  ?    Is  it  not 
an  eye  for  an  eye  and  a 
tooth  for  a  tooth?    Yet 
thou  hast  sold  our  lives 
for  gold.     Thy  threats 


78 


THE   BOOK   OF   AETEMAS 


are  idle,  and  thy  words 
serve  but  to  tickle,  not 
to  scratch. 

30  And    Wudro,    the 
son     of     Wyl,     having 
knowledge,    did    reason 
with    them.      And    he 
spake  unto  them  in  these 
words,    saying :      What 
mean  ye?     Are  not  the 
epistles  to  your  liking? 
Are     not     my     words 
strong  and  well  chosen, 
and  is  not  my  meaning 
plain  to  all  ? 

31  And      they      an- 
swered     him,      saying, 
Verily,  these  things  are 
so.  Have  we  not  said  it  ? 
Nevertheless,    the    man 
that  is  wounded  by  a 
word,    he    sheweth    no 
scar.     How  then  is  the 
marksman  to  know? 

32  And  hast  thou  not 
perceived     that     "Willi 
laughs    at    thee    before 
thy   face;    and,    behind 
thy   back,   he   doth   ex- 
tend his  fingers  towards 
thee,      pointing      them 
from    the    apex   of   his 
nostrils. 

33  At     thy     threats 
doth  he  scoff  aloud,  and 


[CH.  xv. 

thy  servants  doth  he  use 
in  a  manner  that  is 
abominable. 

34  If     these     things 
find  not  favour  in  thine 
eyes,    send    forth   thine 
hosts  that  he  may  know 
that  there  is  might  be- 
hind thy  write. 

35  And    Wudro,    the 
son   of  Wyl,    did  loose 
his   tongue   upon   them 
and  he  upbraided  them 
soundly,  saying,  Am  I  a 
fool   and   a   blind   man 
that  rule  over  you  ? 

36  Wherefore,     then, 
should  ye  upbraid  me, 
and  who  are  ye  to  choose 
the  timet    Verily,  I  say 
unto  you  that  a  lack  of 
understanding,  it  shin- 
eth     from    your     eyes. 
And   your  words,  they 
are  wanting  of  any  wis- 
dom. 

37  But  I  am  trusted 
of  my   people;   neither 
shall  I  betray  that  trust 
because  of  your  impor- 
tuning.    And  when  he 
had  spoken  unto  them  in 
this  wise,  he  sent  them 
away.    And  he  satisfied 
them  not  on  that  day. 


CH.  XVI.] 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


79 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

1  Wudro  delivereth  a  warn- 
ing. 5  Willi  seeJceth  ad- 
vice. 9  And  taketh  it.  10 
Wudro  acteth  according  to 
his  word.  11  Whereat 
Willi  is  amazed.  13  He 
speaketh  boastfully.  17 
Wudro  setteth  about  the 
matter.  22  He  frighten- 
eth  Willi.  23  Who  per- 
ceiveth  the  blessings  of 
peace. 

"  OW  the  longest  rope, 
it  hath  an  end. 
Wherefore  it  came  to 
pass  in  time  that 
Wudro,  the  son  of  Wyl, 
did  send  unto  Willi, 
that  was  the  King  of 
the  Hu,  and  he  said 
unto  him, 

2  Such     things     and 
such    things    hast    thou 
done,    all    these    being 
against     thy     plighted 
word;    and    thine    iniq- 
uity, it  hath  tormented 
me  for  a  long  time  past. 
Now,  therefore,  hearken 
unto  me,  and  pay  atten- 
tion: 

3  Because    I    am    a 


man  of  peace,  therefore 
have  I  borne  with  thee 
long  enough;  and  I  am 
become  sick  unto  death 
with  thy  carryings  on. 
And  the  blood  of  my 
murdered  people,  it 
crieth  out  for  retribu- 
tion. 

4  Take    heed,    there- 
fore, and  mend  the  evil 
of  thy  ways,  for,  on  the 
next  occasion,  assuredly 
shalt  thou  rue  the  day. 

5  And     when     Willi 
had  heard  these  things 
that  Wudro,  the  son  of 
Wyl,  did  say  unto  him, 
he  sent  in  haste  unto  his 
chief   captains,   and  he 
did  commune  with  them. 

6  And  he  questioned 
them  closely  concerning 
the    words    of    Wudro. 
And  he  said  unto  them, 
Think  ye  that  this  man, 
he  meaneth  anything  ? 

7  And     they     made 
answer  unto  him,   say- 
ing,  Be  of  good  cheer 
and  heed  him  not,  for 
he  is  a  man  that  acteth 


80 


THE  BOOK  OP  ABTEMAS 


only  according  to  his 
advantage.  And  to 
make  war,  it  would  ad- 
vantage him  nothing. 
For  the  land  of  Amer, 
it  prospereth  exceeding- 
ly; and  the  miller  turn- 
eth  not  away  that 
stream  which  worketh 
his  wheel. 

8  Also,   he   liveth 
afar  off   and   his   serv- 
ants, they  are  unready. 
Verily,    the    threats    of 
such    an    one,    they   be 
full  of  emptiness;   and 
whatsoever    he    sayeth, 
that  hath  he   also  said 
before.        Nevertheless, 
we  will  smite  him  'be- 
cause  of   it    when   the 
time  is  ripe. 

9  And     after     Willi 
had  heard  all  the  things 
that  the  captains  of  his 
host  did  say  unto  him, 
his   heart   was   rejoiced 
within  him,  and  he  said 
unto    them,    Assuredly 
are  ye  men  after  mine 
own       understanding. 
Let    us,    therefore,    see 
about  it.    And  they  did 
see  about  it. 

10  And    when    word 


[CH.  XVI. 

was  brought  unto  Wu- 
dro  concerning  these 
things  and  how  Willi 
did  set  his  warning  at 
naught,  making  mock  of 
his  threats,  then  was  he 
very  wroth,  and  he  cried 
out  in  the  violence  of 
his  anger,  saying,  Am  I, 
then,  Job,  that  be  born 
again,  to  be  tormented 
thus? 

11  And    he    straight- 
way  called   the   people 
unto  him,  and  he  spake 
unto  them.     And  after 
he  had  told  them  every- 
thing,    he     said     unto 
them,  Is  it,  therefore,  a 
matter  for  war?     And 
they  answered  him  with 
a    mighty    voice,    say- 
ing, It  is  a  matter  for 
war. 

12  And    when    Willi 
heard  what  was  come  to 
pass,    he    was    amazed, 
and  his  knees,  they  did 
tremble     beneath     him. 
And  he  commanded  his 
servants       that       they 
should  bring  unto  him 
the  brazen  mask,  being 
part  of  the  royal  attire; 
and  he  did  put  it  on. 


CH.   XVI.] 

13  And  after  that  it 
was  O7i,  lie  did  raise  his 
voice   on  high,   and  he 
spake,  saying, 

14  What  of  the  land 
of  Amer  ?    And  what  of 
it?     Verily,  a  pin  that 
lieth  in  the  way,  it  is  of 
more    account    than    a 
spike    that    lifteth    its 
head  at  a  distance. 

15  And  the  iron  heel 
of  Hu,  it   levelleth   all 
things ;     neither     shall 
any  man  dare  to  with- 
stand it. 

16  And  when  he  had 
finished     speaking,     he 
sent      out      messengers 
unto  the  four  corners  of 
the    earth,     instructing 
them  that  they  should 
tell  these  things  unto  all 
people,    for    he   was    a 
boastful    fellow    and    a 
braggart,  for  ever  hold- 
ing forth  in  large  man- 
ner for  to  be  heard  of 
all  the  world. 

17  Now  Wudro,    the 
son  of  "Wyl,  after  that 
he  had  made  him  war, 
he  cried  not  out   from 
the      housetops      what 
things  he  would  do,  but 


THE  BOOK  OF  ABTEMAS 


81 


he  gat  him  about  it  for 
to  do  them. 

18  And     he     opened 
wide  the  strings  of  his 
purse  so  that  the  shek- 
els,  they   gushed   forth. 
as  the  waters  of  a  brook 
after  rain. 

19  And  he  sent  much 
munition    of  war   unto 
them    that    were    with 
him,  and  he  commanded 
his  physicians  that  they 
should  go  out  for  to  suc- 
cour the  wounded. 

20  And  he  did  send 
his  vessels  of  war  also, 
which       were       useful 
things  and  ready  for  the 
fray.    And  of  men  that 
did  fly  in  the   air,  he 
sent   also   of  these,  an 
eager  band  and  valiant. 

21  Neither     was     he 
backward  in  the  matter 
of    food,    making    due 
provision  in  all  things. 
And    he    did    set    him 
about    it    for   to    build 
him  an  army,  a  mighty 
host  such  as  never  be- 
fore was  seen.    And  he 
rested  him  not,  neither 
in  the  day  nor  in  the 
night  did  he  rest  him. 


82 


THE  BOOK  OF   ARTEMAS 


doing  always  those 
things  that  were  requi- 
site for  the  undertak- 
ing. 

22  And    when    word 
was  brought  unto  Willi 
that    Wudro,     he    had 
taken  the  coat  from  off 
his  back,    and   that  he 
was    labouring   without 
any    respite,    he    grew 
sore  afraid,  and  he  did 
shake  all  over  with  the 
violence  of  the  tremble 
of  his  knees. 

23  And  when  he  was 
recovered  by  a  potion  of 
strong    drink,    he    did 
call    the    Ministers    of 
State  unto  his  chamber, 
and  he  spake  unto  them, 
saying,  Is  there  no  one 
now  amongst  the  men  of 
peace  that  will  raise  his 
voice  against  this  bloody 
war? 

24  And,  lo,  straight- 
way, there  was  a  voice, 
and  it  spake  concerning 
peace.       And     it     was 


[CH.   XVI. 

blown  along  by  the 
wind,  even  unto  the 
land  of  Amer  was  it 
blown. 

25  And  when  it  was 
come  unto  the  ears  of 
Wudro,  that  was  the  son 
of  Wyl,  he  made  answer 
unto  it,  and  he  did  say, 
Verily,  it  hath  a  goodly 
sound.         Nevertheless, 
this  peace,  it  shall  not 
come   to   pass,    for   the 
king  of  Hu,  he  hath  a 
lying    tongue,    and    his 
plighted  word,  hath  he 
not    broken    it    before? 

26  And  because  he  is 
what    he    is,    therefore 
shall    the    compact    of 
peace     be     made     only 
with  that  man  which  he 
is  not. 

27  And  the  words  of 
Wudro,  they  were  blown 
along  by  the  wind,  even 
back  from  the  land  of 
Amer  were  they  blown 
on    the    wings    of    the 
wind. 


CH.  XVII.] 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


83 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

''PAKE  heed,  my  son, 
and  hearken  unto 
the  words  of  Artemas, 
for  there  are  many  that 
will  give  thee  counsel, 
yet  wisdom  cometh  only 
from  the  few. 

2  Put  not  thy  trust  in 
princes,  for  their  bond 
is  of  paper  that  teareth 
easily.         And       their 
plighted    word    melteth 
like   butter,   before   the 
heat  of  their  necessity. 

3  Beware  of  the  king 
whose    pledge    runneth 
aivay  like  water,  for  the 
skins  of  such  shall  pa- 
per the  walls  of  hell. 

4  A  man  devoured  of 
ambition,   he   lieth   eas- 
ily ;   nevertheless,   there 
cometh    a    time    when 
even   fools   believe   him 
not. 

5  Beware  of  the  wom- 
an that   followeth  thee 
about,  for  she  is  after 
thy  regimental  buttons. 

6  And  if  she  is  safe, 


then  is  she  a  fool ;  but  if 
she  is  otherwise,  then  is 
she  the  devil. 

7  A    woman   hunteth 
thee.     She  lieth  in  wait 
to    surprise    thee,    and 
will  out  upon  thee  when 
the  time  cometh. 

8  Flee       unto       the 
mountains ;    pitch    thou 
thy    tent    afar    in    the 
wilderness ;    take    thou 
sail    across    the    waters 
until  thou  comest  unto  a 
strange    coast.      Never- 
theless, because  she  has 
marked      thee       down, 
therefore  will  she  have 
thee. 

9  "When    thou    goest 
forth  for  to  fight,  take 
care   that   thou  smitest 
thine  enemy  in  the  back, 
for  it  is  the  mark  of  a 
good  fighter  so  to  do. 

10  Also,       he      that 
shooteth      his      enemy 
through  the  head  shed- 
deth  light  upon  his  un- 
derstanding. 

11  When  the  foe  doth 
stand    two    in    a    line, 


84 


THE   BOOK  OF  AKTEMAS 


shoot  thou  thy  bolt,  for 
then  will  thine  execu- 
tion be  twofold.  Verily 
I  say  unto  thee,  Await 
thine  opportunity,  for  a 
shell  in  time  is  as  good 
as  a  mine. 

12  Remember,        my 
son,  that  the  sum  of  two 
and  two   maketh  four; 
yet   in    the    reports    of 
thine  enemy  thou  shalt 
find  it  otherwise. 

13  And    because    the 
pen  is  mightier  than  the 
sword,  therefore  believe 
it  not,   else   shalt  thou 
surely  be  deceived. 

14  Verily  I  say  unto 
thee,  Blessed  is  the  man 
that   hath   imagination, 
for    his    country    shall 
win  many  battles. 

15  Take   ye   heed    of 
the  lone  voice,  for  in  a 
multitude  of  counsellors 
thou   shalt   find   confu- 
sion. 

16  And     an     arsenal 
that  is  full  of  munitions 
is  better  than  an  hun- 
dred    rulers     full     of 
words. 

17  Hearken  not  unto 
the    boasting    of    thine 


[CH.  XVII. 

enemy  and  regard  him 
not,  for  no  man  knoweth 
what  the  day  may  bring 
forth. 

18  And  in  the  time  of 
its  adversity  the  soul  of 
a  country  revealeth  it- 
self. 

19  Get  thee  about  it 
and  do  things,  for  the 
voice    of    the    sluggard 
dieth  in  his  throat,  but 
the     worker     is    heard 
from  afar  off. 

20  Make     thou     thy 
task    according    to    thy 
strength,    for    no    man 
that      weareth      costly 
teeth  doth  gnaw  at  the 
bones  of  an  elephant. 

21  Make    thy    life 
wisely,   0  my  son,  lest 
thy  neighbours  speak  ill 
concerning   thee.     And 
if   thou   shouldst   stray 
from  the  narrow  path, 
remember     the     other, 
that  it  is  of  sand. 

22  Wherefore,     tread 
lightly.      For    he    that 
leaveth     his     footprint 
behind,    his    foolishness 
condemns  him.    But  the 
prudent    sinner    is    ex- 
alted unto  heaven,  and 


cir.  xvii.] 

his  name,  it  exhaleth  a 
very  sweet  perfume. 

23  For         whosoever 
sups  with  the  devil  in  a 
place   where  men    pass 
by,  shall  he  not,  there- 
fore, turn  out  the  light  ? 

24  Woe      unto      the 
peacemongers    that    en- 
tice thee  with  words,  for 
these  do  seek  thine  un- 
doing. 

25  Thy   way   leadeth 
over  stony  ground,  and 
to  go  back,  it  is  the  man- 
ner of  a  coward. 

26  For  whosoever  set- 
teth    his    hand    to    the 
plow,  he  shall  not  turn 
back;  and  he  that  fin- 
isheth  a  furrow,  he  hath 
not  plowed  the  field. 

27  What  man  gather- 
eth  him  the  blossom  of 
the  apple  tree?    Rather 
doth  he  wait  until  the 
fruit    cometh,    big   and 
full  of  juice;  then  doth 
he  eat  of  it. 

28  Avoid   thou   them 
that  seek  to  divide  the 
people,  one  against  the 


THE  BOOK  OF  ARTEMAS 


85 


other,  for  they  are  trai- 
tors in  the  land. 

29  Turn     not     away 
from  instruction,  0  my 
son,  but  open  thine  ears 
full   wide,    for   wisdom 
maketh  a  fair  mistress 
and  she  is  youthful  for 
all  time. 

30  And  he  that  fpl- 
loweth  after  her,  his  life 
shall    be    well    ordered 
and  his  affairs  shall  fall 
out  just  so. 

31  Thou     shalt     rule 
thy  comings  in  and  thy 
goings  out  according  to 
circumstance,     so     that 
nothing    ariseth    amiss ; 
for  a  thirst  that  is  born 
at  a  proper  time,  it  mak- 
eth the  publican  smile; 
but  a  thirst  that  cometh 
late  is  an  affliction  unto 
him  that  hath  it. 

32  Take     heed,     my 
son,  and  hearken  unto 
the  words  of  Artemas, 
for  there  are  many  that 
will   give   thee   counsel, 
yet  wisdom  cometh  only 
from  the  few. 


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